Girls basketball notes: Area teams receive sectional assignments

The Illinois High School Association recently released the assignments for girls basketball sectionals, which will begin play Feb. 12.

In Class 4A, the largest of the four classes, Plainfield Central, Plainfield East, Plainfield North and Plainfield South will compete in the 17-team East Aurora Sectional. Regional hosts in the sectional will be West Aurora, Benet Academy, Oswego East and Plainfield North. Also in Class 4A, Bolingbrook will host a 16-team sectional, with Bolingbrook, Lincoln-Way East, Lockport, Lincoln-Way Central and Romeoville as local teams competing. Regional hosts so far are Marist, Lincoln-Way East and Sandburg, and the IHSA is still seeking another regional host. Finally in Class 4A, Joliet Central will host a 17-team sectional featuring Joliet Central, Joliet West, Minooka and Lincoln-Way West in Sub-Sectional B. Regional hosts are Minooka and East Moline.

In Class 3A, Kaneland hosts an 18-team sectional. Lemont and Providence Catholic are in Sub-Sectional B, with Glenbard South and Wheaton St. Francis as regional hosts. Also in Class 3A, Morris will be in Sub-Sectional B of the LaSalle-Peru Sectional with regional hosts as Geneseo and Sterling.

In Class 2A, Joliet Catholic Academy will host a regional, along with Westmont, in the 22-team Timothy Christian Sectional. Also in Class 2A, Peotone will host a sectional, with Reed-Custer, Coal City, Peotone, Seneca and Wilmington in Sub-Sectional B. Regional hosts will be Reed-Custer and Seneca.

In Class 1A, Dwight and Gardner-South Wilmington is in Sub-Sectional A in the 23-team Hinckley-Big Rock Sectional. The regional hosts for that sub-sectional are Dwight and Midland.

Key matchup

Two of the top girls teams in the area, Joliet West and Bolingbrook, recently squared off in a nonconference game. Bolingbrook won, 49-44, handing the Tigers (13-2) only their second loss of the season. Bolingbrook improved to 9-4 with the win and is looking to be peaking as the postseason begins with players returning from quarantine.

On the verge

Providence Catholic currently owns a 19-3 record, the most wins in the area. One more victory will give the Celtics 20 wins as they aim for their ninth regional championship.

Milestone

In a recent Southwest Prairie Conference win over Plainfield Central, Joliet West’s Grace Walsh collected her 500th career rebound.

Who’s hot

Joliet West, Peotone and Plainfield North each have won nine of their past 10 games. Also in the last 10, Lincoln-Way Central is 8-2, as is Providence Catholic. Bolingbrook, Lemont, Lincoln-Way East, Plaifield East and Seneca all are 7-3 in their past 10 games, while Lincoln-Way West, Lockport, Plainfield South and Romeoville all are 5-5.