With the playoffs quickly approaching, High School Lites has tons of great boys and girls basketball action this week.
We'll see some huge conference tilts in the CSL South, Fox Valley and South Suburban Red to name a few. Newly-crowned McDonald's All-American D.J. Steward will also be featured on the show as the Whitney Young star and Duke commit talks about his selection.
High School Lites airs on Friday night at 11 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago with replays coming Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
THURSDAY
No. 5 Evanston at No. 19 Glenbrook South, 7:00 p.m. -- This week's main matchup takes us to the North Suburbs as two unbeaten CSL South teams collide. Evanston (20-2, 6-0) has dropped two of its last four games following a hot start. Following a loss to Loyola on Tuesday, how will the Wildkits respond during a huge conference game? Glenbrook South (19-3, 6-0) counters with senior Dom Martinelli as he remains one of the area's most dangerous players. These two teams will play again on Feb. 21 at Evanston.
FRIDAY
Tinley Park at No. 21 Oak Forest, 6:30 p.m. -- A lot of bragging rights on the line in this South Suburban Blue matchup. Two of the state's best sophomores clash with Oak Forest's Robbie Avila and Tinley Park's A.J. Casey. But Oak Forest (19-1, 9-0) is more than just Robbie Avila. Jayson Kent and Juan Avila are two very strong players as well for the Bengals as they try to hold off second-place Hillcrest with a win here. Tinley Park (15-8, 5-4) lost on the road to Hillcrest last Friday to snap a three-game winning streak.
No. 18 Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake South, 7:00 p.m. -- Some rare Friday night hoops in the Fox Valley as we check out the conference-leading Trojans. Cary-Grove (20-3, 10-1) is coming off of a loss to Huntley earlier this week as they try to maintain a share of the lead atop the Fox Valley. Crystal Lake South (9-11, 3-7) has been alternating wins and losses for the past few weeks as they try to pick off Cary-Grove. The Trojans won the first matchup between these two teams in a close one (39-37) on Dec. 11.
Andrew at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7:00 p.m. -- The SouthWest Suburban Red remains wide open as we track this contest. Andrew (12-7, 2-0) has won five straight games as they're looking like an intriguing threat in the conference. Bradley-Bourbonnais (10-10, 0-1) has been in a recent slide as they've fallen four straight games.
GIRLS: Maine West at Highland Park, 7:00 p.m. -- We'll see one of the best Class 4A girls teams in the state in this matchup. Maine West (21-3) comes in as the No. 4 ranked Class 4A girls basketball team in Illinois in the most recent AP poll as they ran past St. Viator earlier this week. Highland Park (9-11) has dropped three straight matchups as they hope to turn things around. Maine West won the first matchup between these two teams at home with a win on Dec. 10.
Morton at No. 25 Hinsdale South, 7:30 p.m. -- The West Suburban Gold's top two teams battle in this one. Hinsdale South (21-2, 7-0) has been one of the hottest teams in the area during January. The Hornet haven't lost since back-to-back losses at the Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament in late December. Morton (14-5, 4-1) lost to Hinsdale South on Dec. 6 as they try to get revenge.
New Trier at Maine South, 7:30 p.m. -- We check out another CSL South matchup in this one. New Trier (11-10, 2-4) has been very tough recently with close losses to Glenbrook South and Evanston while earning a win over a talented Oak Lawn team. Maine South (14-9, 3-3) has quietly ran off seven straight wins as they appear to be peaking at the right time. These two teams are scheduled to play again on Feb. 21 with the return game coming at New Trier.
Hampshire at Jacobs, 7:30 p.m. -- Another Fox Valley matchup to watch between two teams trying to stay with Cary-Grove and Huntley. Hampshire (15-6, 8-3) has won four straight games as they're one of the Fox Valley's hotter teams. Jacobs (13-8, 7-4) knocked off McHenry in conference play earlier this week as they attempt to avenge a loss to Hampshire back on Dec. 11.
VIEWERS' CHOICE GAME OF THE WEEK
Illinois Lutheran at Beecher, 7:00 p.m. -- The River Valley is our focus for Viewers' Choice this week. Illinois Lutheran (2-14, 0-8) lost in the first matchup between these two teams on Jan. 8 as they try to snap a nine-game losing streak. Beecher (10-12, 4-3) fell to River Valley leader St. Anne last Friday as they try to make a move from the middle of the conference pack.