By Joe Collins & Taylor Bell
CSNChicago.com
1Simeon (20-1)
Results: No games played last week
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This Week: Wednesday vs. Douglass (Public League playoffs)
Hoops Talk: Jabari Parker, Steve Taylor, Kendrick Nunn and company are sure to treat the Public League playoffs like they would for the IHSAs in March.
2Proviso East (19-0)
Results: Defeated Hinsdale South 71-59 and Proviso West 100-65
This Week: Friday vs. Morton, Saturday at Willowbrook
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Hoops Talk: The French Connection (Paris Lee and Paris Burns) help fuel weekend victories by the Pirates on both sides of the floor.
3Curie (20-1)
Results: No games played last week
This Week: Wednesday vs. Amundsen (Public League playoffs)
Hoops Talk: Will Curie get their rematch vs. the top-ranked Wolverines in the Public League playoffs? Sophomore center Cliff Alexander will be tough to stop.
4Warren (17-2)
Results: Defeated Lake Forest 50-38 and Zion-Benton 70-52
This Week: Friday vs. Zion-Benton, Saturday vs. Glenbrook North
Hoops Talk: Nathan Booth went 12-17 from the field and matched his career high in points (28) Saturday at Z-B.
5Plainfield East (20-1)
Results: Defeated Plainfield Central 64-37, Minooka 48-41 (OT) and Naperville North 70-48.
This Week: Tuesday vs. Plainfield North, Friday at Romeoville
Hoops Talk: Talk about making a statement. The Bengals put the clamps on Minooka (2nd in SW Prairie) and then wallop a good DuPage Valley team by 22.
6Andrew (17-1)
Results: Lost to Thornton 47-45; Defeated Stagg 51-40
This Week: Tuesday at Bradley, Friday vs. Lincoln-Way North
Hoops Talk: Jubril Adekoya and Glorind Lisha help Andrew rebound from their first defeat on the season.
7Bogan (19-2)
Results: No games played last week
This Week: Wednesday vs. Uplift (Public League playoffs)
Hoops Talk: Devonte Smith and Devaughn Johnson will look to prove theres more to Public League hoops than just Simeon and Curie.
8Downers Grove South (18-4)
Results: Defeated Addison Trail 66-52, Willowbrook 68-55 and Downers Grove North 66-35
This Week: Saturday vs. Leyden
Hoops Talk: Kevin Honn and Jamall Millison are two key players stepping up in the wake of Jerron Wilbuts absence (suspension).
9Huntley (19-2)
Results: Defeated Prairie Ridge 56-43 and McHenry 34-29
This Week: Wednesday vs. Crystal Lake South, Saturday vs. Dundee-Crown
Hoops Talk: Its not just the Amanze Egekeze show at Huntley. Guard Troy Miller has stepped up nicely this season as well.
10Elgin (16-3)
Results: Lost to St. Charles East 65-63
This Week: Tuesday at DeKalb, Wednesday vs. Batavia, Friday at Larkin
Hoops Talk: The Maroons have now lost two straight. Kory Brown still impressive, though: 27 points and 13 boards against the Saints.
11Whitney Young (12-8)
Results: Defeated North Lawndale 48-47, Crane 45-29; Lost to Bishop Gorman 69-50.
This Week: Wednesday vs. DuSable (Public League playoffs)
Hoops Talk: The Dolphins finished in a four-way tie for first in the Red-West, with Orr, Marshall and Farragut.
12De La Salle (14-4)
Results: Lost to St. Rita 60-46
This Week: Tuesday vs. Hillcrest
Hoops Talk: Tough closing stretch for the Meteors. Three of their last four opponents are ranked in the CSN Top 20 (Hillcrest, St. Ignatius and Simeon).
13St. Ignatius (17-3)
Results: Lost to Leo 58-54; Defeated Fenwick 59-38 and New Trier 49-42
This Week: Tuesday vs. Brother Rice, Friday vs. Gordon Tech
Hoops Talk: Brian Howard helped the Wolfpack bounce back in a big way. His game-high 18 points fueled his team against fellow CSN Top 20-foe New Trier.
14New Trier (18-4)
Results: Lost to Waukegan 54-51 and St. Ignatius 49-42
This Week: Friday vs. Evanston (at Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Hoops Talk: Rough week for the Trevians, who now tune up for a big rivalry game in a large venue.
15Hillcrest (18-4)
Results: Defeated Oak Forest 64-29
This Week: Tuesday at De La Salle
Hoops Talk: The Hawks hit five three pointers in the first quarter Friday night against the Bengals. A huge measuring-stick game awaits on Tuesday.
16Bloom (19-3)
Results: Defeated Kankakee 77-27 and Rich South 64-44
This Week: Friday at Rich South
Hoops Talk: This weeks game against the Stars will mark the rubber game between the two teams. Bloom won at the McDipper, South beat Bloom 16.
17Metea Valley (19-2)
Results: Defeated Neuqua Valley 71-67 (OT); Lost to Hinsdale Central 73-72 (OT)
This Week: Wednesday at Lake Park, Saturday vs. Waubonsie Valley
Hoops Talk: Ryan Solomon carried the Mustangs this week, but M-V could not figure out sophomore Chase Hamilton and the upstart Red Devils.
18Orr (16-3)
Results: Defeated Crane 70-45
This Week: Wednesday vs. Powerhouse (Public League playoffs)
Hoops Talk: Marquise Pryor and Jamal McDowell will prove that Orr will not go away easily in the Public League playoffs.
19Hope Academy (19-2)
Results: No games played last week
This Week: Wednesday @ Ida Crown, Friday vs. Northside College Prep
Hoops Talk: Hope needs to focus on these two games, which includes Fridays senior night, and not look ahead to Tuesdays tilt against Seton.
20Lemont (19-2)
Results: Defeated Tinley Park 75-66
This Week: Thursday vs. T.F. North
Hoops Talk: Lemonts 27-0 run erased a 21-3 lead for Tinley Park Friday night. Juozas Balciunas had a career-high 31 points.
Looming & Lurking: St. Rita, Marshall, Crane, Farragut, West Aurora, Naperville North, Seton, Foreman, Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, Mundelein, Homewood-Flossmoor, Notre Dame, North Chicago, Riverside-Brookfield, Crete-Monee, St. Viator, Oak Park, Herscher, Immaculate Conception, York.