Henricksen: Weekend forecast

It’s early December but there are some very important conference matchups on tap for this weekend. Here is a look at the best of the weekend, including Sunday’s featured games at the 9th annual Team Rose Shootout at Moraine Valley this Sunday.

Here is your weekend forecast.

■ Naperville North at Wheaton North • Friday

A key DuPage Valley game between two teams expected to battle for the top spot. This one takes on significant importance for Wheaton North, which will be on its home floor and already 0-1 in league play. The Wheaton North senior duo of Luke Anthony and Rowan McGowan will keep this one tight with their scoring and shooting, but DVC favorite Naperville North survives on the road.

Hoops Report pick: Naperville North 60, Wheaton North 56

■ Benet at Notre Dame • Friday

A pair of early-season unbeaten teams collide. There may not be a more competitive conference race than the East Suburban Catholic Conference, so this league opener is a big one right out of the gate. Benet guard Jack Nolan is terrific, but the smaller Redwings must find a a way to deal with the size and length the Dons present in 6-6 Jeameril Wilson, 6-5 Chris Heinichen, 6-9 Sean Johnson and 6-8 Dusan Mahorcic.

Hoops Report pick: Benet 52, Notre Dame 47

■ Fremd at Conant • Friday

Conant is 6-1 with its only loss coming to highly-ranked Evanston. The Cougars received all kinds of preseason hype with a high ranking and boasting the 1-2 punch of senior Jimmy Sotos (Bucknell recruit) and junior big man Ryan Davis. But unbeaten Fremd has been dominating thus far, to the tune of a 6-0 record and a 25 point win differential. The Fremd senior group will pose the biggest threat to Conant in the MSL West. Look for a couple of experienced teams to play patiently and lock each other up with their defense.

Hoops Report pick: Conant 46, Fremd 41

■ Lincoln-Way East at Homewood-Floosmoor • Friday

H-F, led by the senior bunch of Jeffery Boyd, Trelan Morrow, Nick Holmes, Jarret Tribble and Cortez King-Parks, have impressed in the early going. The Vikings are unbeaten, ranked and have the look of a team with staying power. Lincoln-Way East is one of the most improved teams from a year ago with its only loss coming to Brother Rice. But more than anything it’s a chance for the Griffins, led by 6-5 junior Sam Shafer, to make a major statement.

Hoops Report pick: H-F 63, Lincoln-Way East 52

■ Oak Park at Lyons Twp. • Friday

This has all the makings of a fun one in LaGrange as the two West Suburban Silver contenders go at it. Oak Park has been impressive with its athleticism and balance, featuring seniors Cam Gross and Jared Scott to go with an exciting, young backcourt in sophomore Dashon Enoch and junior Isaiah Fuller. The Huskies are an overtime loss to a ranked Fenwick from being a perfect 6-0.

Lyons, meanwhile –– a preseason Hoops Report top 25 team –– was beaten by Downers North in the league opener and 4-1 overall. LT’s Connor Niego and Company will give Oak Park everything it has in a tight, back-and-forth game. But I like the look of OPRF thus far this season as the Huskies pull out a squeaker.

Hoops Report pick: Oak Park 59, Lyons 57

■ Thornton at Lincoln-Way West • Friday

It’s not time to hit the panic button yet with these two teams that came into the season with big expectations, even with a combined record of 5-6 between them. Both still have stars leading the way in Thornton’s Alonzo Verge and Lincoln-Way West’s Marco Pettinato.

Hoops Report pick: Thornton 64, Lincoln-Way West 56

■ West Aurora at York • Saturday

If West Aurora takes care of East Aurora on Friday night, this Saturday non-conference tilt will feature two teams off to strong 5-1 starts. This one is a toss up.

The attention in this one will be on the backcourts, with the best of the bunch being West Aurora’s athletic junior Camron Donatlan. York’s defensive philosophy and tempo will cause some issues for West Aurora, but the Blackhawks pull out a tough road win.

Hoops Report pick: West Aurora 49, York 47

■ Team Rose Shootout • Sunday at Moraine Valley

Can St. Joseph get untracked against Curie, the defending state champs?

Can the Public League’s Red-West take out two of the best in the south suburbs when Farragut faces H-F and Orr plays Marian Catholic?

Something has to give between Hillcrest and R-B, two offensive-charged teams who’ve been tagged with some recent losses.

Just how good and underrated is St. Rita?

The Team Rose Shootout will help answer many of these questions this Sunday. Here is the schedule for the 9th annual event.

Homewood-Flossmoor vs. Farragut • 10:00 a.m.

Von Steuben vs. Brooks • 11:15 a.m.

U-High vs. St. Rita • 12:30 p.m.

Oak Park vs. Crete-Monee • 1:45 p.m.

Marian Catholic vs. Orr • 3:00 p.m.