If beating a team three times is tough...

Then what about four times, which Hoffman Estates will have to do when it hosts a Class 4A regional and will open against Mid-Suburban West rival Fremd. Regional pairings were released Friday by the IHSA.

Hoffman, the seventh seed in the Waukegan regional, won twice in Mid-Suburban West play and also won their meeting over No. 11 Fremd in the third-place game at the Elgin Holiday Tournament. At that time, Hoffman coach Bill Wandro predicted this scenario would take place and it did since 10th seed Lake Zurich also hosts a regional. I don't recall and neither could a few other coaches any time recently boys teams around here played each other four times.

The big question will be if someone from the MSL can break through the Lake County Fab Four top seeds and get to Waukegan's historic "Dog Pound," which will be one tough ticket considering showdowns with North Chicago and Zion-Benton the last two Tuesdays played to packed houses of 3,200. Lake Forest and Michigan-bound Matt Vogrich got the top seed and could have a third high-scoring showdown with fourth-seed Warren and Illinois-bound Brandon Paul.

But first Warren could have a rematch of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament title game when it beat fifth-seeded Schaumburg. Both are at Lake Zurich and the Saxons expect to have star Cully Payne back by then. They also got third-year varsity player Blake Mueller back from a torn ACL two games ago. But they figure to have a tough opening round test with Lake Zurich, which has played one of the state's toughest schedules and has a dangerous inside-outside combo in Brandon Kunz and Connor Mooney.

Second-seed Waukegan and Illinois-bound Jereme Richmond and Fairfield-bound Colin Nickerson have to make the long trek to Hoffman. Third-seed Zion-Benton, last year's 4A runnerup, has regained momentum with the return of big man Markus Yarbrough to go with Ohio State-bound junior star Lenzelle Smith and tough senior point guard Ronald Steward. Sixth-seed Conant makes the long trek up to Zion to open with a Libertyville team that also has size with 6-7 Jeremy Letchford and has knocked off Zion.

In the Niles North sectional, CSL North champion Glenbrook North and Alex Dragicevich got the top seed and beat second-seed Maine East for a second time Friday. Maine East will be at the Elk Grove regional and one slight twist there has No. 9 St. Viator facing No. 7 Glenbrook South, which should have 6-9 Notre Dame-bound Jack Cooley back from thumb surgery. Rich McLoughlin will have to play big inside for the Lions to return to the regional final.

Fourth-seed Prospect will be on its home floor for the regional and will likely have to beat Hersey for a third time in its opener. That could lead to a chance in the regional final to avenge a 2-point loss in the second round of the Wheeling Hardwood Classic to Loyola and standout Matt Sullivan. Third-seed Notre Dame and its tough crew of guards will also get to enjoy the comfort of its unique home floor in a regional. No. 8 Evanston also has dangerous potential.

Highlighting the Elgin sectional is a likely regional final matchup at Dundee-Crown between the hosts and Jacobs. The Chargers just won by 4 last week and they'll end meet in their regular-season finale. Rockford Guilford top-seed Rockton Hononegah won't have an easy time getting out of the regional.

Will the Oswego East sectional lead to a battle for Naperville between top-seed Neuqua Valley and its deep crew led by Dwayne Evans and Derek Raridon and No. 2 seed Naperville Central and Northwestern-bound Drew Crawford? No. 3 Bolingbrook has Wisconsin-bound Diamond Taylor and No. 4 East Aurora has talented sophomore Ryan Boatright. Plainfield North, which nearly reached the Pontiac finals, Glenbard East and West Aurora are all dangerous. And how about rivals Geneva and Batavia meeting again in a regional opener, with the winner hoping to have something left emotionally for Neuqua.

At Morton, don't be fooled by top-seed Whitney Young's 8 losses against a schedule filled with national powers. But one of those losses is to No. 4 Morton, which won the Proviso West title but has scuffled without injured star big man Luke Scarlata. Second-seed DeLaSalle is also scary and another great regional opener features St. Ignatius getting a shot to avenge a 3-point loss last week to St. Patrick.

Hyde Park has quietly emerged from the city to get the top seed at Hinsdale Central. Simeon had a rough start but has recovered to get the third seed. The Hinsdale South regional figures to have No. 4 Mt. Carmel and sophomore star Tracy Abrams against one of the hottest teams in the state in No. 5 Downers Grove South, which hopes to give retiring coach Paul Runyon a nice sendoff.

Thornton has emerged as the state's top 4A team with star Reggie Smith and got the top seed at Lincoln-Way North. The Wildcats just beat No. 2 TF North. Pekin brings teams from the Quad Cities, St. Louis area and central Illinois. Moline could be in familiar territory since it won the Pekin Holiday Tournament.

The depth of the fields in 3A is nowhere near most of the 4A sectionals but there is plenty of quality at the top. North Chicago and its dynamic duo of Keith Ford and DeShawn Chambliss are looking for a return to the supersectional with Grayslake Central looking as if it might be the only potential obstacle.

The Riverside-Brookfield field is the best led by top-seed North Lawndale, last year's 2A champ which has overcome the shooting of Jermaine Winfield, who returned to the court last week. St. Joseph and 6-9 UIC-bound Louis Green are coming on strong for Gene Pingatore, who set the state record for coaching wins last month. Defending 3A champ Marshall has had more turmoil with its third coach in three years but Darius Smith can change a game. R-B is also dangerous and made a statement with a win over Morton.

In the Rochelle sectional, Sterling is a big threat with Illinois-bound Joseph Bertrand. Aurora Central Catholic has put together a tremendous year and held its own against bigger competition. Leo is the favorite in the King sectional and defending 4A champion Richards dropped down a class and leads the way in its sectional.