With the postseason humming along, there were a few changes to this week's Preps Basketball Power Rankings. Eliminated teams have been dropped from the rankings while five new teams have entered the spotlight after collecting regional titles.
This week will feature many of these teams playing each other during sectional and supersectional play, so there will be plenty of changes to come before the end of the season. Please note that all schools below are in Class 4A unless otherwise noted.
1. Curie (31-1) (1) -- The state's best team started its title quest in impressive fashion with wins over Schurz and Fenwick (without senior guard Trevon Hamilton). The Condors play one of the state's hottest teams in Riverside-Brookfield at Proviso West before possibly facing Whitney Young or York for a sectional title.
2. Morgan Park (28-4) (2) (3A) -- The Mustangs cruised past King for a regional crown as they head to St. Laurence for sectionals. Mount Carmel comes first while Morgan Park could potentially get a rematch with rival Bogan for a sectional title.
3. Evanston (28-4) (3) -- Evanston's journey back to Peoria began with a victory over Notre Dame as they continue to look like the Niles North Sectional's strongest team. The Wildkits face conference rival Glenbrook South in the sectional semifinals -- a team they split the regular season series left.
4. Bloom (26-3) (4) -- Receiving a test from Thornwood in the regional finals, Bloom passed the test to advance to Eisenhower. The No. 1 seed Trojans have to beat Homewood-Flossmoor for a third time in the sectional semifinals if they want to advance.
5. Simeon (18-14) (5) -- Surviving on a buzzer-beating tip-in from A.J. Casey, Simeon moved past Brother Rice for a memorable win. The Wolverines will have one of the state's best sectional semifinal games when they face Marian Catholic at Eisenhower.
6. Bogan (26-3) (6) (3A) -- The Bengals picked off Hyde Park for a regional championship as Bogan put up triple digits in the win. Bogan advances to a tough St. Laurence sectional as they play the hosts in the semifinals.
7. Whitney Young (24-7) (7) -- Advancing past conference rival Lane to advance to Proviso West, the Dolphins have some big tests ahead. The sectional semifinals see Whitney Young play York and No. 1 Curie could be a potential matchup for the sectional title.
8. Orr (23-11) (8) (2A) -- Emerging as the team to beat in Class 2A, Orr knocked off Uplift to win the Aurora Christian Sectional. The Spartans get a major test against Leo in supersectional play at Joliet Central on Tuesday.
9. Geneva (30-1) (9) -- Now up to 30 wins on the season, the Vikings continue to beat everyone in their path. Geneva faces a hot team in Lyons in the sectional semifinals as a potential rematch with Lake Park -- Geneva's only loss -- potentially looms in the sectional finals.
10. Providence-St. Mel (27-6) (11) (1A) -- The favorites in Class 1A, the Knights took care of business in the Collins Academy Sectional. East Dubuque looms in the Class 1A supersectional at NIU on Tuesday.
11. Bolingbrook (21-7) (12) -- Running past Joliet Central to advance, the No. 1 seed Raiders are headed to East Aurora. Bolingbrook will have a battle with West Aurora in the next round as these two teams faced for a sectional title last season.
12. Marian Catholic (27-4) (13) -- The Spartans held off Thornton for a regional title as Marian Catholic advances to Eisenhower. The No. 2 seed in the sectional, the Spartans face Simeon in what could be Class 4A's best sectional semifinal.
13. Homewood-Flossmoor (22-7) (14) -- Major victory for the Vikings over St. Rita as H-F won despite being short-handed. Homewood-Flossmoor gets another crack at Bloom this week at Eisenhower. The Vikings have lost twice to the Blazing Trojans already by a combined total of six points.
14. St. Viator (25-6) (17) (3A) -- Blitzing Sullivan to advance in the Grayslake Central Sectional, the Lions remain a major factor in Class 3A. St. Viator takes on St. Patrick on Tuesday night in sectional semifinal play.
15. Farragut (19-7) (18) (3A) -- Advancing past Bulls Prep, the Admirals are in solid position as the No. 1 seed in North Lawndale. Farragut faces De La Salle in semifinal play on Tuesday.
16. York (29-4) (19) -- Finally beating OPRF after losing the first two tries, York continues its outstanding season. The Dukes will get a major challenge in the sectional semifinals as they play Whitney Young at Proviso West.
17. St. Laurence (27-5) (20) (3A) -- St. Laurence eliminated Vocational to advance to its own sectional as the Vikings get a stiff test in the next game. The matchup against Bogan could be the best 3A sectional semifinal in the state.
18. Riverside-Brookfield (28-4) (21) -- Winners of 15 straight games, Riverside-Brookfield has steadily climbed our top 25 over the past four weeks. The win over Lincoln Park was one of the best among any Class 4A team. The Bulldogs get a crack at No. 1 Curie this week at Proviso West.
19. Waukegan (27-5) (22) -- Waukegan ran past Warren for a regional crown as senior Bryant Brown went over 2,000 career points. The Bulldogs host their own sectional as they start with Fremd before a potential third game with conference rival Stevenson looms.
20. Lake Park (23-11) (NR) -- Head coach Billy Pitcher has his team playing great down the stretch as Lake Park earned notable wins over host DeKalb and Benet during regionals. The Lancers face Downers North in the next round in the Bartlett Sectional.
21. Loyola (21-12) (NR) -- Peaking at the right time, Loyola had a strong week with wins over host Rolling Meadows and Maine South. The Ramblers will face Schaumburg in the next round as they are a dangerous team in the Niles North Sectional.
22. Stevenson (25-5) (NR) -- The No. 1 seed in the Waukegan Sectional, the Patriots took down Hersey to advance. The Patriots will play Deerfield in the sectional semifinals before a potential third meeting against Waukegan if they can get past Schaumburg.
23. DePaul Prep (23-9) (NR) (3A) -- The Rams earned a regional title over Ridgewood as they advance to Grayslake Central for sectional play. DePaul Prep plays a talented Carmel team in sectional semifinal play.
24. Fremd (22-4) (NR) -- The MSL champs cruised past Barrington to advance in the Waukegan Sectional. The Vikings will face the host Bulldogs in a tough battle on Wednesday.
25. Schaumburg (23-6) (NR) -- One of the hotter teams in the 4A field, the Saxons earned an impressive double-digit win over No. 2 seed New Trier. Schaumburg faces Loyola Academy in the Niles North Sectional this week.