Marshall, Von Steuben, Westinghouse, Simeon vie for city championship

One of the most exciting Public League boys basketball seasons in recent memory will have a fitting climax this weekend as the semifinals and championship game take place.

The semifinals will be at the DePaul Athletic Center Friday with Simeon taking on Marshall at 6:15 p.m. followed by Westinghouse taking on Von Steuben at 8:30 p.m. The two winners will advance to the Public League championship game Saturday at the United Center at 7 p.m. The title game will be televised live on Ch. 26

Although the winner of the Public League championship no longer receives an automatic bid to the state tourney, it still is something every school in the city shoots for.

"Winning the Public League title is still a big deal," says Marshall head coach Lamont Bryant. "You win this and you have bragging rights for the rest of the year. Winning the city title says that you are the best high school basketball team in the city."

Westinghouse enters the Final Four as the defending champion and odds-on-favorite to repeat.

Led by All-American 6-8 center DeAndre Thomas and a cast of outstanding players, such as Cory Custon and Marquis Johnson, the Warriors have rolled to a 23-3 record this season.

"We want to repeat as city champs, "Westinghouse head coach Quitman Dillard said.

"We feel we are the best team and will be disappointed if we don't do it."

The Warriors will be facing an upset-minded Von Steuben squad that is making its first Final Four appearance in three years. Guard Angel Santiago leads the 19-6 Panthers,

"Reaching the Final Four was one of our goals we set at the start of the season," Von Steuben head coach Vince Carter told the Defender. "Winning the city title was another goal. We want to accomplish that."

Marshall, behind the play of guard Patrick Beverly and forward Jerwin Calloway, are 20-6 coming into the Final Four, but the Commandos just might be playing the best of any team.

"The kids are tasting it now," Bryant said. "Before it was 32 teams, it was wide open. Now, with just four teams left, they are realizing just how close it is."

Simeon also has been on a roll. The Wolverines with a 23-4 record reached the semifinals with a big victory over Julian.

Sophomore star Derrick Rose, along with forward Tim Green and guard Tim Flowers, have led the way for head coach Robert Smith's squad.

"We're getting outstanding contributions from a lot of our players," Smith stated.

Notes: Up until Wednesday, the Julian Jaguars were 22-3 and were planning for next week's Class AA Thornridge sectional. But after center Nyal Koshwal was determined by Chicago Public Schools officials to have been out of elementary school five years - athletes are allowed to play up to four years after finishing - the team had to forfeit 19 of their victories, dropping their record to 3-22. The team will remain in the Class AA title picture because the Illinois High School Association ruled that the team is still eligible to play.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.