Fun and excitement prevail. March Madness is both college and high school:
Six college teams started Friday from Illinois in the 64-team Division III college men’s tournament. Aurora University, North Central College, and Wheaton College were among the six and 64. Add Lake Forest, Eureka, and Illinois Wesleyan. Friday there will be 16 teams in the tournament and only Wheaton and Augustana will represent Illinois. It is fun and over too soon. Top-rated Augustana ended the Aurora University season, 93-67, in Rock Island Friday. Augustana won Saturday and will play Wheaton at 5 p.m. Friday at Augustana, host to four teams, each seeking a berth in the final four in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 15-16. Then the 68 Division I teams will be announced Sunday, March 17. An Illinois team may not be in the tournament this year, unless Loyola, or Illinois State, wins an automatic berth with a Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship in St. Louis. But, hope springs eternal.
In the high school version in Class 4A and 3A, Geneva continues to hold the torch. Geneva will play in the Bartlett Sectional championship game Friday. Bolingbrook defeated West Aurora Tuesday, 75-61, at East Aurora, prior to Oswego East’s victory over Waubonsie Valley, 59-36. February 9 Waubonsie Valley defeated Oswego East. It’s madness. South Elgin, Downers Grove North, York, and Lake Park were alive prior to Wednesday in Class 4A and Glenbard South was alive in 3A.