Let's cut to the chase.

Here are my picks for the finals on Thanksgiving weekend. (I'll work my way backward later.)

8A: Bolingbrook (assuming a healthy Aaron Bailey) over Loyola. (I know; same as last year. Sorry.)

7A: Lincoln-Way East over Glenbard West. (Big year for the Southwest Suburban Blue.)

6A: Cary-Grove over Lemont. (6A was the toughest one for me.)

5A: Montini over Morris. (I know; another Montini title -- how boring.)

After 5A I really don't know much about any of the teams. But I would like to see 3A Aurora Christian play (there's a lot of buzz about these guys), perhaps against Immaculate Conception in Round Two. I think the Eagles could compete in 5A; they only lost to Montini by four points on the road recently.