Previewing and predicting the Class 4A state tournament

When it comes to the Class 4A field, all eyes will be on Kenwood.

The Broncos jumped one hurdle by winning its first-ever city championship. Now can a program that has been knocking on the door get over the highest hurdle?

Kenwood won sectional titles in 2022 and 2023 before losing to Whitney Young and Downers Grove North, respectively, in the supersectional. Even as the No. 1 ranked team in the state this season, the road for coach Joseph Mason’s team is a rigorous one.

Here is a look at Kenwood’s path and all the 4A predictions on the road to Champaign, including state semifinal and championship game picks.

Collinsville Sectional

Semifinal picks: Quincy over Alton; Moline over Normal

Sectional pick: Quincy

This sectional is full of major potholes and legit contenders. Take a look at these contending teams’ records: Edwardsville (27-2), Quincy (27-3), Normal (25-6), Rock Island (26-5) and Moline (24-7) all in this sectional. Then add four other 20-plus win teams.

Good luck to all.

Maybe stubbing its toe in the final week of the regular season — Quincy lost to Rock Island — was what a red-hot, talented and hungry Blue Devils team needed. Quincy is the best team. The Blue Devils get past last year’s heartbreak and return to the State Finals for the first time in nearly three decades.

Benet Sectional

Semifinal picks: Benet over Waubonsie Valley; Bolingbrook over Downers Grove North

Sectional pick: Bolingbrook

If Downers Grove North, the No. 4 seed, can get through a tricky regional final, this sectional will have the same four teams together again just like last year.

Whether it’s knocking off talented 29-win Waubonsie Valley or beating Benet on its home floor, the sectional championship will be a war that Bolingbrook and Davion Thompson somehow find a way to win. Bolingbrook beat Benet 64-53 a month ago.

St. Charles East Sectional

Semifinal picks: Glenbard West over Proviso East; Geneva over Wheaton South

Sectional pick: Glenbard West

Geneva is a not-talked-about-much 26-win team that must beat a Wheaton-Warrenville South team for a third time this season; Geneva won 30-29 last month.

Meanwhile, top-seeded Glenbard West is the only ranked team in the sectional. The Hilltoppers closed the season winning 13 of 14 and boasts the most talent in the field.

New Trier Sectional

Semifinal picks: Evanston over New Trier; Niles North over Loyola

Sectional pick: Evanston

There are potential rematches galore in a sectional where there is also so much familiarity.

New Trier will have its hands full in taking care of Maine South on the road in the regional opener and Lane in the regional final. But with a healthy Christopher Kirkpatrick the Trevians find a way to get their third shot at rival Evanston — and on their home floor.

Though Loyola won the regular-season matchup, Loyola-Niles North is a contrast in styles and a true toss-up. The senior experience and scoring potential of Niles North gives them the postseason edge.

But when it’s all said and done, it’s Evanston that has been the best, most consistent team of the bunch — and the best defensive team — throughout the second half of the season.

Hinsdale Central Sectional

Semifinal picks: Kenwood over Simeon; Hinsdale Central over Young

Sectional pick: Kenwood

A sectional final between two teams with what would be a combined record of 61-4? Sign us up. Getting there, though, won’t be easy for either team in the state’s toughest sectional.

Hinsdale Central would have to beat Curie in arguably the toughest regional final and either Lincoln Park or Young just for a shot at top-ranked Kenwood in the sectional final. No small task. But the Red Devils sure would enjoy the comforts of playing at home in what will be a tough environment for any of the city contenders.

Kenwood has played at too high of a level and too consistent to bail on them at this point.

Rich Sectional

Semifinal picks: Homewood-Flossmoor over Joliet West; Marist over Rich

Sectional pick: Homewood-Flossmoor

How challenging will it be for a team to get through this sectional? Here are just a couple of examples: No. 1 seed H-F beat No. 5 seed Joliet West 59-58 last month; No. 4 seed Bloom has beaten No. 3 seed Rich twice.

Truthfully, it won’t be a surprise no matter what team survives and gets out of this sectional.

Schaumburg Sectional

Semifinal picks: Fremd over Hersey; Rolling Meadows over Stevenson

Sectional pick: Rolling Meadows

Fremd’s road to the final is a little more friendly than others in this sectional. The Rolling Meadows-Stevenson matchup is a flip of the coin. But an all-MSL title game awaits, one week after Rolling Meadows beat Fremd in the conference championship game.

Waukegan Sectional

Semifinal picks: Warren over DeKalb; Rockford Guilford over Waukegan

Sectional pick: Warren

DeKalb has been a bit of a forgotten team, though they have grabbed some attention late with a win over Waubonsie Valley last week.

There is a lot of faith restored here in a Warren team that’s lacked a long, successful run this season. But in Jaxson Davis and Company we trust. The Blue Devils put it together at the right time, gain some momentum along the tourney trail and get it done.

Class 4A State Semifinal Picks: Quincy over Evanston; Kenwood over Warren

Class 4A State Championship: Quincy over Kenwood