Sports
Hoops: These Boys are Flying High
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks the top area high school boys basketball teams from 1-5, plus a short list of the next best.
1. Benet (22-0): Redwings keep on overcoming every challenge, but the road to facing Simeon Feb. 19 is no picnic. St. Patrick, Marist and Niles Notre Dame are no guarantees in East Suburban Catholic play.
2. Downers Grove South (18-3): Mustangs’ surge continued with a win over Morton, avenging one of their three losses this season. Oh, and that makes 11 straight wins and counting.
3. Neuqua Valley (19-4): Wildcats bounce back from Waubonsie loss by dominating Bolingbrook. The schedule sets up nicely for a strong regular-season finish as well.
Find out what's happening in Napervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
4. Oswego (14-5): Panthers push closer to a Southwest Prairie Conference title with wins over Plainfield East and South. A chance for a second win over both Oswego East and Plainfield Central await this week.
5. Hinsdale South (14-7): Hornets split a pair, including a loss to Downers Grove South, last week, but are still putting together a solid season in Darien.
Find out what's happening in Napervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Next best (in alphabetical order): Naperville North (11-8), Plainfield Central (14-6), Plainfield North (13-8), Plainfield South (13-8), Waubonsie Valley (14-7).
(Covering the following Patch communities: Bolingbrook, Channahon-Minooka, Darien, Lemont, Naperville, Oswego, Plainfield, Romeoville, Shorewood, Woodridge, Yorkville and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).
