Class 1A Girls Regional Preview Capsules

When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Where: Aquin High School, Freeport

Teams: No. 1 Aquin (24-2), No. 2 Eastland (20-8), No. 3 Dakota (18-9), No. 4 Forreston (18-9), No. 5 Pearl City (11-8), No. 6 Orangeville (5-18)

Players to watch: Sophie Brunner, Aquin sr. G; Samm Buss, Orangeville sr. G; Jaycee Cleaver, Dakota so. G; Ashley Cropper, Pearl City sr. C; Anna Drake, Forreston sr. F; Courtney Walker, Eastland jr. G

Outlook: With five of the six teams’ records above .500, this a loaded regional without saying the defending Class 1A state champion is in the field. The road to the sectional goes through Arizona State-bound Brunner. Eastland, Dakota and Forreston are solid, but must play very well to beat her Bulldogs.

Dark horse: Dakota

Winner to: River Ridge Sectional vs. Polo Regional winner, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11

SVM prediction: Aquin

Hinckley-Big Rock 

When: Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday

Where: Hinckley-Big Rock
High School

Teams: No. 1 Hinckley-Big Rock (14-12), No. 2 Amboy (14-12), No. 3 Indian Creek (12-13), No. 4 Paw Paw (10-14), No. 5 Mooseheart (1-12)

Players to watch: Josie Morgan, Paw Paw sr.  F; U-Conjay Nelson, Mooseheart sr. G; Autumn Smith, Amboy sr. C; Abbie Tosch, Hinckley-Big Rock sr. F; Kate Thuestad, Indian Creek sr. F

Outlook: The top three teams seem pretty evenly matched. The third seed, Indian Creek, beat Hinckley-Big Rock 26-23 in a Little Ten Conference game last week. The lone SVM team, Amboy, has solid post players to go with good outside shooters.

Dark horse: Amboy

Winner to: Illinois Valley
Community College Sectional vs. Midland Regional winner, 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11

SVM prediction: Indian Creek

Polo  

When: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Where: Polo High School

Teams: No. 1 Prophetstown
(24-3), No. 2 Erie (19-8), No. 3 Polo (7-16), No. 4 Milledgeville (5-19), No. 5 Ashton-Franklin Center (10-14)

Players to watch: Courtney Cobert, Erie jr. G; Alisyn Essex, AFC so. C; Cassie Reiley,
Prophetstown sr. G; Aleetra
Roberts, Polo sr. F; Courtney Swalve, Milledgeville jr. F

Outlook: The Prophets have been a team on a mission since the opening tipoff in November. Their top goal is avenging a sectional championship loss last season to Aquin and advancing to the state tournament. But they’ll have to get through this regional – which includes its nearest rival Erie – first.