I've been out of town...

...for a week and, amazingly, the earth continued to turn on its axis.

The IHSA playoffs resume this weekend. On Friday, in Class 8A:

#4 Homewood-Flossmoor (9-2) will travel to #9 Naperville North (8-3); and
#2 Lyons (10-1) will play #3 Mount Carmel (9-2) at Gately.

On Saturday, also in Class 8A:

#4 Maine South (9-2) will be at #1 Stevenson (11-0); and
#2 Loyola (10-1) will play at #14 Palatine (7-4).

In Class 7A:

#5 Lake Zurich (10-1) vs. #1 Simeon (11-0) at Gately;
#3 Carmel (10-1) at #2 St. Rita (10-1);
#2 Glenbard West (10-1) at #1 Wheaton Warrenville South (11-0); and
#5 Belleville East (9-2) at #3 Minooka (10-1).

In Class 5A:

#10 Marian Central (8-3) at #6 Montini (9-2); and
#2 Joliet Catholic (10-1) at #1 Peoria Richwoods (11-0).