Previewing and predicting this weekend's top high school basketball games

Last week was rough. It was the worst week of forecasting and picking games. But it’s indicative of the type of season we are experiencing, a season where the best teams look vulnerable and the constant barrage of shootouts and scheduling overloads lead to upsets — some real, maybe some are just perceived.

Here is a preview of the top games during a weekend where there are very few.

Last week: 3-5

Season: 20-10

Friday

No. 21 Evanston (18-4) at New Trier (18-6)

This is big. This is for first place in the Central Suburban League South and will have significant sectional seed implications.

The blend of youth and experience is coming together for the Wildkits. How improved are they? The Wildkits beat Deerfield, the team they lost to back in December, by 26 points last week.

Theo Rocca is the 6-4 senior anchor who gives the WIldkits so much, both in production and leadership. But Evanston has received improved numbers from the emerging trio of freshman Ben Ojala, sophomore Vito Rocca and senior guard Kaidan Chatham.

Evanston has lost three of its four games by a grand total of six points — Six! — including two that came at or just before the buzzer. Now coach Mike Ellis’ team is in the midst of its toughest stretch, a heartbreaker of a loss at Metamora last Saturday, New Trier on Friday and Benet on Saturday.

Christopher Kirkpatrick is an absolute bucket for New Trier. He is averaging 22 points a game with a high success rate from the three-point line. Lately much of the offensive production has been placed on Kirkpatrick and Colby Smith — they both scored 29 points in a win Monday over Oak Park. In a win over Maine South, Kirkpatrick and Smith scored all their points.

Expect nothing less than a one-possession nailbiter in this rivalry showdown. Interestingly, these two turn around and play again in 11 days.

The pick: Evanston 52, New Trier 50

No. 6 Hinsdale Central (21-2) at Glenbard West (17-4)

This will go a long way in deciding the West Suburban Silver as both sit at 6-1 on the season.

Glenbard West went to Hinsdale and beat the Red Devils 42-40 in early December, thanks to the play of senior big man Logan Glover and his two key free throws down the stretch.

While Glover has been rock solid, averaging 10.2 points a game and has been extremely efficient shooting 70 percent from the field, junior TJ Williams is the biggest factor in the Hilltoppers’ success. The athletic guard leads the way with 13.4 points and over three steals a game.

The Hilltoppers hit a midseason speed bump but have recovered nicely, winning five straight following a 3-4 stretch.

Hinsdale Central, meanwhile, is as hot as any team with 18 straight wins. So too is senior star Vincas Buzelis. How about these last five games for the 6-5 South Dakota recruit: 24 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, two steals and 1.6 blocks a game.

Glenbard West’s 1-3-1 still has a way of neutralizing foes with the steals and deflections both Williams and Josh Abushanab (8.9 ppg) provide, but the Red Devils move the ball so well.

The pick: Hinsdale Central 51, Glenbard West 47

No. 17 Simeon (16-6) at No. 15 Curie (16-6)

This is a fun Friday night game in the Public League. A pair of ranked city teams that could use a pick-me-up just before the city playoffs begin. This is a game where a win could definitely provide it.

Neither Simeon or Curie have a bonafide star. They both do it with balance.

Lorenzo Shields has been a steady presence with the ball in his hands for coach Tim Flowers, while highly-regarded junior Andre Tyler is fresh off a big effort in the win over Lane on Tuesday. And senior Julien Doyle is a talented wing with size who has quietly put together a rock solid senior year.

January has been a goofy month for Curie, which was thumped by Kenwood by 22 points and lost to Lindblom. The Condors have a pair of double-figure scorers in Brad Johnson (11.2 ppg) and Mike Oliver, Jr. (10.7 ppg).

The pick: Simeon 64, Curie 59

Saturday

McHenry (19-2) vs. New Trier (18-6) at Loyola

The first question is what kind of emotional state will New Trier be in after playing rival Evanston in a monster game just 18 hours earlier?

McHenry is in the midst of perhaps another record-breaking season. Last year the Warriors broke the school record for wins with 26 while advancing to the sectional title game. But they are well ahead of last season’s pace.

But even with a November win over Kaneland and beating Crystal Lake South, this is the toughest test on its schedule. Making this an even taller task is the fact McHenry recently lost its best player, 6-8 junior Adam Anwar, to a broken wrist.

The McHenry guard tandem of Dylan Hurckes and Caleb Jett is keeping this McHenry run going — eight straight wins since December —but this could be too big of a hurdle without the size and scoring of Anwar.

The pick: New Trier 64, McHenry 50

No. 21 Evanston (18-4) vs. No. 9 Benet (20-4) at Loyola

This is the marquee game at this year’s War on the Shore.

Can Benet ride the emotional wave of taking apart Rich last weekend for a little while? They’ll certainly ride the foursome of Blake Fagbemi, the engine of this team, 6-9 Daniel Pauliukonis, 7-0 Colin Stack and Jayden Wright.

What will Evanston have left in the tank after an emotional game with rival New Trier less than 20 hours earlier? They’re going to need to defend the three-point line.

When Benet can get out in the open floor, get some spacing and is making shots, it’s a different looking team — and one that can hide its own blemishes.

The pick: Benet 60, Evanston 57

No. 12 Niles North (19-5) at No. 22 Loyola (18-6)

Will Niles North be able to play at its breakneck pace against a Loyola team that typically benefits from making you score against them in their halfcourt defense?

Loyola showed it can play a quality opponent and win by scoring some points — 67 in a huge victory last week over Mount Carmel. That’s an offensive explosion for the Ramblers, who against their nine toughest opponents this season averaged 40 points a game. Junior Sam Golden has been an offensive spark with his shooting.

That should be of some benefit as it prepares for a similar team in Niles North with its own three-headed monster of Yaris Irby (17.4 ppg), Reid Olson (16.8 ppg, 5.9 apg) and Hunter Gawron (18.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg). Those three combined to put up 53 points a game between them.

Both could use a win as a feather in the cap come seeding time as both are in the New Trier Sectional.

Loyola pulls out just enough transition-resistant defense to pull off the slight upset.

The pick: Loyola 50, Niles North 47