Josh Abushanab scored 27 points to power Glenbard West past Leyden, Joseph Lubbe scored 24 in a York win and Lyons, Benet, St. Francis, Downers Grove South, Wheaton Warrenville South, Glenbard East, Glenbard South and Lemont were also regional semifinal winners Wednesday.

Can Benet navigate a gauntlet of a road and repeat in Class 4A? Can Glenbard East make a return to Champaign? How far can York take its magical season? And what about Class 3A? Here are storylines to watch as the boys basketball postseason tips off next week.

Lyons made a habit of mounting impressive comebacks all season – and did it again Tuesday, rallying past Hinsdale Central to clinch a share of the West Suburban Silver title with York. That, plus notes on Riverside-Brookfield and Benet from Bob Narang.

Cam Mercer scored 17 points as Riverside-Brookfield rolled past West Chicago to clinch at least a share of the Upstate Eight East title and Glenbard East and Wheaton Warrenville South boys basketball were also winners in Wednesday's roundup.

Liam Enright's hot shooting sparked Riverside-Brookfield's huge first-quarter run for a lead that eventually grew to 20, and Benjamin Biskupic made several key plays late as the Bulldogs held off a Glenbard East rally for a 69-64 in the showdown of Upstate Eight East leaders.

Downers Grove South senior Sean Day is back at a familiar spot on the court. His strong play has the Mustangs, winners of six straight, on track for a 20-win team. That, Wheaton Academy's Hayden Schroeder breaks 51-year school scoring record and more in Bob Narang's notebook.

Cam Mercer scored 25 points to pace Riverside-Brookfield past Morton to its ninth straight win and Lyons, Glenbard South and Wheaton North boys basketball and Montini and Fenwick girls basketball were also winners in Tuesday's roundup.

Cameron Mercer scored 21 of his game-high 24 points in the second half, while sophomore Noah VanTholen added nine of his 12 points as Riverside-Brookfield shook off some early cold shooting and rallied for a 53-46 Upstate Eight East victory at Glenbard South.

Stella Sakalas scored 29 points to lead Nazareth past Homewood-Flossmoor at the Coach Kipp Hoopsfest, Cameron Mercer's 32 points paced Riverside-Brookfield to its seventh straight win, and Benet and York boys basketball were also winners in Monday's roundup.

Cameron Mercer scored 21 points to pace Riverside-Brookfield past Lyons, Emma Briggs tallied 21 to lead Benet past Glenbrook South at the Coach Kipp Hoopsfest and more in Saturday's roundup.

At 16-3 and in first place in the West Suburban Silver, York has been one of the area's surprise teams this season. That, Glenbard West moving in the right direction after a tough start and Riverside-Brookfield on track for another 20-win season in boys basketball notes.

Julian Overton's 16 points paced Lemont to a big conference crossover win over Oak Lawn, Cameron Mercer scored 24 points in a Riverside-Brookfield win and Liz Pettinger's 507 series led Willowbrook bowling to a dual win in Thursday's roundup.

Joseph Lubbe poured in 27 points to lead York past Willowbrook, Michael Nee hit seven 3-pointers and scored 23 in a Glenbard East win, Cameron Mercer tallied 25 in a Riverside-Brookfield win, plus Glenbard South and Wheaton Warrenville South were also both winners Tuesday.

Riverside-Brookfield's Cameron Mercer scored his 1,000th career point in the Bulldogs' win at the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic, Lyons, Glenbard East, Lemont and Wheaton North also won at the Tosh, plus results from all the holiday tournament action in Friday's roundup.

Keenan House poured in a career-high 19 points to power Glenbard East to a 70-58 victory over Riverside-Brookfield in an early-season clash of top Upstate Eight East teams on Friday night in Lombard.

Led by senior point guard Adam Flowers, Downers Grove South has won six straight games since dropping its first two games of the season. That, sophomore Grant Smith emerging as Lyons' go-to player plus notes on Riverside-Brookfield and York from Bob Narang.

Cameron Mercer's 24 points paced a Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball win, and Glenbard East, Glenbard South, Morton, Downers Grove North and Fenwick boys basketball were also winners Tuesday.

Riverside-Brookfield and Lemont boys basketball picked up conference wins and Downers Grove South beat Lemont in Friday's roundup.

As the 2025-2026 boys basketball season tips off this week, here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Known this season for its offense, No. 14-seeded Rolling Meadows used a strong defensive effort to defeat No. 3 host Riverside-Brookfield 29-23 in the Class 6A playoff opener – the program’s first playoff victory since 2019.

Can anyone prevent a collision course game between East St. Louis and Nazareth in the state championship? A lot of teams would like to think so. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 6A Playoffs.

Glenbard East junior kicker Moises Velazquez nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Rams a thrilling 45-43 victory over Riverside-Brookfield and their second consecutive Upstate Eight East title.

After playing free safety and slot receiver last season, Riverside-Brookfield senior Warren Mason is primarily a defensive player this season. He's one of the players that's helped lead the 7-0 Bulldogs to their best start since 2001. That, plus notes on Lemont and more.

Riverside-Brookfield's Bryan Rimpila delivered a massive hit on a squib kick in which the Bulldogs recovered and went on to score the go-ahead TD for a 21-17 comeback win over Glenbard South on Friday night to stay unbeaten.

While Elmwood's Salvatore Labarbera took individual honors, it was Riverside-Brookfield and West Aurora who came out as the top teams at Wednesday's Upstate Eight Tournament.

Riverside-Brookfield is a team flying under the radar, but the Bulldogs are 0-2 start and have scored a combined 76 points in those two games. That, Downers Grove South sophomore James Sobkowiak shows moxie and leadership in defeat and more in Bob Narang's football notebook.

The 2025 boys soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Here are team-by-team breakdowns, five players to watch, five can't miss games plus Steve Soucie's predictions for the Upstate Eight Conference.

Riverside-Brookfield senior forward Colin Cimino is on the right track toward a promising future in hoops. He gained valuable experience last season for the Bulldogs, carving his teeth on the varsity with several starts in the second half.

What looks different for the new high school football season? With the IHSA football schedules now out, Steve Soucie looks at the differences for the new campaign.

Nazareth senior Chase Zidlicky was slated to be the staff ace this spring, but a rash of injuries has put additional stress on him to pitch deeper into games. Zidklicky, 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA, has been up to the task. That and notes on Riverside-Brookfield and more from Bob Narang.

Glenbard South’s Luke VanTholen set a personal record (50.05) while winning the 400 to help the Raiders place second in the Upstate Eight Conference Meet.

Riverside-Brookfield freshman pitcher Amelia Pytel starred for the Brookfield Little League 12-Under All-Star team that won a state championship in 2023. Now she's the ace for a Bulldogs' team that just won seven in a row. That plus notes on Wheaton North and York.

Four-time reigning Upstate Eight champ Glenbard East (98 points) came in second, followed by Bartlett (74 points), South Elgin (72.3 points) and East Aurora (63 points) to round out the top five behind West Aurora (132) at the Upstate Eight girls meet.

After winning a combined 62 games the last two seasons, Downers Grove North is enjoying another successful spring, closing in on the 20-win mark. That, Riverside-Brookfield in the hunt for the Upstate Eight Conference title and more in Bob Narang's baseball notebook.

Five players spiked at least four kills, four had aces, and three recorded blocks in Downers Grove North's 25-17, 25-17 nonconference victory over visiting Riverside-Brookfield.

Seniors Sienna Thurston and Isa Okuku scored six minutes apart in the first half and that was all the Downers Grove South needed to beat Riverside-Brookfield 2-0.

Downers Grove South hosted Riverside-Brookfield girls varsity soccer on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Downers Grove.

Lemont, Class 3A runner-up last season, lost Ohio State recruit Jacob Parr to a high ankle sprain before the season, but the team has shaken off the early adversity and is enjoying a spring break trip to Florida. That, plus notes on Nazareth, Montini and Riverside-Brookfield.

The 2025 high school softball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Glenbard East rode an incredibly hot early hand – and then held off a furious comeback by Riverside-Brookfield – to prevail 67-49 and deadlock the Upstate Eight East lead with two games left.

Riverside-Brookfield senior Brycen Grove completed a rare four-point play during a 15-3 run in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs topped Lyons Township 69-66 on Saturday.

Riverside-Brookfield senior Vince Dockendorf's steady play at point guard is a good sign for the Bulldogs as they head into holiday tournament season. That, York a work in progress heading into Jack Tosh Holiday Classic and more in Bob Narang's boys basketball notes.

Glenbard West boys basketball won the District 87 title, Cam Mercer scored 25 points to lead Riverside-Brookfield past Hinsdale South, and York, Wheaton Warrenville South and St. Francis boys basketball were all winners in Wednesday's roundup.

The 2024-2025 boys basketball season tips off this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life area.

York junior third-year starter Katie Day had eight kills and 11 digs to lead the Dukes to a 25-23, 25-19 over Riverside-Brookfield on Thursday to capture the Class 4A York Regional championship.

Riverside-Brookfield scored two straight touchdowns in coming back from a four-point halftime deficit, and rallied to knock off Glenbard South 26-21 to snap the Raiders' four-game winning streak.

Riverside-Brookfield junior Gavin Sharenow, who shot a 4-over-par 75 to tie for second place, helping lead Riverside-Brookfield to the Upstate Eight Conference championship, is the Suburban Life Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is his Q&A with Sports Editor Josh Welge.

Riverside-Brookfield, in its first season in the Upstate Eight Conference, won the league's boys golf tournament title on Monday, with R-B's Gavin Sharenow second on a scorecard tiebreaker. Glenbard South was fourth.

The 2024 girls volleyball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.