NBC Sports Chicago Preps Power Rankings: Ranked teams dominating IHSA Playoffs

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The NBC Sports Chicago Preps Power Rankings didn't feature too many changes this week.

An astounding 23 out of 25 teams from last week's rankings claimed a regional (or sectional) title with wins during the week. Only Bolingbrook and Waubonsie Valley were eliminated from the IHSA State Playoffs, and subsequently, dropped from the Power Rankings.

We should see quite a bit of movement next week when many of these top-25 teams will play for sectional titles. 

1. Bloom (28-5, 15-1) (1) -- Easy win for Bloom as the Blazing Trojans went on the road and ran past Thornwood in the regional finals. The next game gets difficult for Bloom when they host No. 17 Marian Catholic on Tuesday night in the sectional semifinals. The Blazing Trojans beat the Spartans twice during the regular season with both wins coming by 17 points. 
2. Thornton (31-1, 15-1) (2) -- Impressive road win for Thornton as they had a blowout win over Lincoln-Way East. The Bloom Sectional comes next for the Wildcats as they'll play No. 13 Homewood-Flossmoor in the sectional semifinals on Wednesday. 
3. Simeon (24-8, 8-2) (3) -- Running past Lane for a road win, the Wolverines continue to peak at the right time. Sectional semifinal play will be difficult for Simeon and Robert Smith's team will have to get past No. 7 Whitney Young on Wednesday night to advance. 
4. Curie (28-2, 8-0) (4) -- Another balanced outing helped Curie beat Lyons by double-digits as Ramean Hinton led with 16 points. The Condors will face an underdog in the next round when they play Morton in the Lyons Sectional. 
5. Morgan Park (21-9, 6-2) (5) (3A) -- The Mustangs claimed a regional title with ease in rolling past Tinley Park with an impressive win. The No. 1 seed in the Thornridge Sectional will get a major test against No. 19 Hillcrest in the sectional semifinals on Tuesday. 
6. Bogan (27-3, 8-1) (6) (3A) -- Antione Bloxton continues to put up big numbers as the senior's 23 points lifted the Bengals by St. Laurence for a regional title road win. The No. 1 seed in the Hinsdale South Sectional will play Riverside-Brookfield on Tuesday.
7. Whitney Young (20-9, 8-1) (7) -- Rallying for a regional final win over St. Rita at Proviso West, the Dolphins earned regional title hardware. The Lyons Sectional comes next for Whitney Young and they'll play city rival No. 3 Simeon on Wednesday night.
8. Notre Dame (28-5, 8-1) (8) (3A) -- A balanced effort led by 16 points from Anthony Sayles placed Notre Dame into the sectional semifinals as they ran past Vernon Hills. Untested so far in the playoffs, the Dons have an enticing battle with Deerfield in the Grayslake North Sectional on Tuesday. 
9. Evanston (28-4, 9-1) (9) -- It was a battle, but Evanston eventually outlasted rival New Trier to win a regional title. Another rival awaits the Wildkits in the next round as they face Glenbrook South in Tuesday's sectional semifinals. Evanston split the season series and won the latest matchup at home with a close overtime win.
10. Stevenson (27-4, 13-1) (10) -- It wasn't pretty but Stevenson outlasted Highland Park to win a regional title in its own gym. The top seed in the Prospect Sectional gets a strong test against an athletic and talented Zion-Benton team on Tuesday night. 
11. Loyola (29-4, 14-1) (11) -- Smothering Maine South for a regional title home win, Loyola continued its strong season on the defensive end. The Ramblers advance in the Elk Grove Sectional and they'll play Niles North in a sectional semifinal on Tuesday.
12. Glenbrook South (29-4, 9-1) (12) -- The dream season for the Titans continued with a double-digit win over Maine West. Glenbrook South gets a third battle with CSL South rival Evanston on Tuesday night in the sectional semifinals. The two teams split the regular-season series. 
13. Homewood-Flossmoor (25-4, 7-1) (14) -- The Vikings cruised past Oak Lawn to win another regional title. The next round sees Homewood-Flossmoor get a crack at No. 2 Thornton -- a team that beat them back in January. That rematch goes down at Bloom on Wednesday night.
14. Joliet West (28-4, 16-0) (15) -- Getting past Romeoville on the road, Joliet West advanced to sectionals. The No. 1 seed in the Lockport Sectional will face Neuqua Valley on Tuesday.
15. Mundelein (29-4, 12-2) (16) -- Not much of a test for Mundelein when the Mustangs blew out Fremd by 21 points for a regional crown. Upset-minded Prospect hosts the sectional semifinals in the next round as the Mustangs play on Tuesday night. 
16. DePaul Prep (26-5, 12-3) (17) (3A) -- Easy win for DePaul Prep as the Rams cruised past Farragut at home. Wednesday will be tough for DePaul Prep when they face St. Ignatius on the road in the sectional semifinals.
17. Marian Catholic (24-8, 8-1) (18) -- Strong games from Ahron Ulis (24 points) and Elijah Jones (19 points) lifted the Spartans past Brother Rice for a regional title home win. Marian Catholic has a major test on Tuesday when they play No. 1 Bloom in the sectional semifinals in a tough road game.
18. Fenwick (26-7, 12-3) (19) (3A) -- Making quick work of Payton, the Friars captured a regional title at home behind a big game from junior Bryce Hopkins. Advancing to the St. Ignatius Sectional, Fenwick will take on Westinghouse on Tuesday.
19. Hillcrest (23-8, 12-1) (20) (3A) -- Hillcrest won a regional on its home floor with a win over Rich Central as Mar'Keise Irving and Julius Rollins both had solid games. The intensity picks up for Hillcrest in the next matchup when they face Thornridge Sectional No. 1 seed Morgan Park on Tuesday.
20. Orr (21-7, 7-2) (21) (2A) -- The Spartans claimed another Class 2A sectional title with a notable win over Clark. Orr will try to advance to Peoria once again as they face another Public League team in Corliss on Tuesday at Joliet Central.
21. Hinsdale South (30-3, 11-1) (22) (3A) -- Aaron Tims dropped 28 points to lift the Hornets to 30 wins and a regional title win over Kenwood. Now on its home floor for sectionals, Hinsdale South hosts No. 23 Benet on Wednesday.
22. Cary-Grove (30-3, 17-1) (23) -- It wasn't easy, but Cary-Grove finally put away a familiar Fox Valley foe in Jacobs to win win the second boys basketball regional title in school history. The second 30-win team in Fox Valley history, the Trojans play Huntley in the sectional semifinals at McHenry. The two teams split the regular-season series.
23. Benet (24-9, 7-2) (25) (3A) -- A double-digit home win over De La Salle gave Benet a regional title. The Redwings have to go on the road in the next round when they play No. 21 Hinsdale South on Wednesday night in the sectional semifinals.
24. Niles North (27-5, 10-0) (NR) -- Impressive win for the Vikings on the road as they eliminated Schaumburg with a double-digit win. Difficult game in the next round for Aquan Smart and company as they face No. 11 Loyola Academy on Tuesday at the Elk Grove Sectional.  
25. Oak Forest (28-3, 12-1) (NR) (3A) -- The Bengals find themselves back in the Power Rankings with a victory over T.F. North. Sophomore Robbie Avila had a triple-double with 25 points, 16 rebounds and 10 blocks in the win. Major test for Oak Forest in the Thornridge Sectional when they play a talented Kankakee squad on Wednesday. 

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