Quarterfinal playoff games this weekend
By Kent McDill
We're down to eight teams in eight classes each, and the games become more meaningful and exciting with each step.
Is this the week the favorites fall? Or do the favorites get through, sending the wannabes packing for the rest of the school year?
In Class 8A, two unbeaten remain, Maine South and Fremd. Maine South hosts 9-2 Glenbrook South, which lost to the Hawks four weeks ago, 45-34. Fremd hosts 9-2 Chicago Marist, which beat one of Fremd's rival schools, Schaumburg, in the first round of the playoffs.
Glenbard West is the only remaining unbeaten in Class 7A, and they take on 8-3 St. Charles North this weekend. Another game of huge interest is 9-2 East St. Louis playing 8-3 O'Fallon as the Flyers continue their quest to claim the 7A title after requesting a move up in class for better competition.
In Class 6A, one bracket has the top four seeds still in the running, led by unbeaten Danville. Lemont, Providence Catholic and Crete-Monee each have just one loss on their books this season heading into weekend play.
The other bracket, however, is all over the map, record-wise. One game will pit 7-4 Belvedere North against 8-3 Prairie Ridge, while unbeaten Cary Grove takes on 9-2 Chicago DeLaSalle.
Unbeatens Springfield Sacred Heart and Washington each have one more game to get through before they meet in the Class 5A semifinals. In the other bracket, 8-3 Sycamore faces 7-4 Montini in a match of surprise quarterfinalists.
In Class 4A, there will be a meeting of unbeatens, when Rochester plays Quincy Notre Dame. The same thing happens in Class 3A when Illini West plays Wilmington. The winner of that game could face unbeaten Skillman Valley, assuming they beat 8-3 Newman Central Catholic.
Casey Westfield and Morrison are the remaining unbeatens in Class 2A but won't meet until the state finals, if they get there. Marshall, Orion and Gibson City are the one-loss teams still in the hunt.
Lexington is the only unbeaten still alive in Class 1A. The semifinals will feature one team with three losses, as 8-3 Tuscola faces 8-3 South Fulton.
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