Surprises in the Peoria party

No way back at Christmas would I have figured to see Dundee-Crown and Oswego headed for Peoria. But that's the beauty of the basketball season - teams get things turned around or turn it on at the right time. That's the case for both as they're guaranteed of returning with the first state trophies in the histories of their schools.
D-C has put on quite a run since they lost to Glenbard East in the fifth-place game at the Elgin tournament. The Chargers have showed the ability to win close games in the postseason and took care of a talented Neuqua team that had only lost once and won the same Elgin tourney.
Oswego has only lost once in 2009. In the York tourney semifinals, Conant shot the lights out and turned out to have more points at halftime (39) than Oswego finished with in a 70-38 romp. But the Panthers also got everything together at the right time and survived in overtime against one of the state's most tradition-filled programs in Rock Island.
It's all part of what makes March Madness, despite the IHSA's attempts to spoil it with four classes, such a special time of year.
Also, on Friday I'll have my second annual breakdown and picks of the tourney and Sunday I'll have some thoughts on the second year of IHSA class expansion.