Getting Prepped

Here are the Associated Press boys basketball 3A/4A all-state teams. A panel of 19 media members throughout the state voted.

CLASS 3A
FIRST TEAM
Rayvonte Rice Champaign Centennial 6-3 Sr.
Chasson Randle Rock Island 6-2 Jr.
Mycheal Henry Chicago Orr 6-5 Jr.
Tylon Deal Peoria Richwoods 6-0 Sr.
Eric Gaines Country Club Hills Hillcrest 6-4 Sr.

SECOND TEAM
Max Bielfeldt Peoria Notre Dame 6-8 Jr.
Jordan Threloff DeKalb 6-10 Sr.
Wayne Simon Westchester St. Joseph 5-10 Sr.
Jordan Nelson Lincoln 6-0 Jr.
Ben Brackney Lincoln 6-5 Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Despite the IHSA expansion that has disappointed many of us who grew up with the boys basketball, we've seen once again this week why high school basketball fans get so excited about this time of year.

It turned out there was a tripleheader at Schaumburg on Monday as regional play began in the Class 4A boys basketball state tournament. And the middle game had the kind of excitement and drama that makes March Madness something special.

The details weren't in the newspapers or on the IHSA website but the middle game - held at halftime of Schaumburg's 54-35 win over Grant - featured Special Olympic athletes from School District 54. They played a pair of two minutes halves and the special needs cheerleading team of District 54 was also on hand.

First, let's start by congratulating Fremd senior Jeff Freund for finishing seventh in the 500 freestyle relay at the boys state swim meet Saturday in Evanston. A great way to finish a high school career and a tremendous accomplishment.
The problem for the Mid-Suburban League was Freund was the only one to receive medal congratulations Saturday. When Daily Herald swim guru Aaron Gabriel told me Friday that Freund was the only one to make the medal round from the MSL, frankly I was shocked. I know everything happens in cycles and the MSL hasn't been a big state factor lately, but only one medalist?

Joe Bunge and Larry McKeon are two of the biggest reasons the annual football battle between Naperville Central and Naperville North is played at North Central College before more than 10,000 people. So, it's fitting they are heading into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Assocation Hall of Fame together April 10 in Champaign.
Bunge led Naperville Central to a state title in 1999 and two second-place finishes. He finished with a career record of 234-72 and also had stops at Tilden, Niles North and Gordon Tech.
McKeon just concluded his career at Naperville North in the fall with state titles in 1992 and 2007 and a second-place finish. He had a career record of 262-90 and also worked at Joliet Catholic and Plainfield.

Congratulations to Rolling Meadows senior Richie Kemph, who scored 21 points in Wednesday night's win over Round Lake to pass the 1,000 mark for his three-year varsity career. Kemph has 1,011 points going into Friday night's Mid-Suburban East finale with Elk Grove.

Lyons Township is one of the biggest surprises of the boys basketball season in the state. The tradition-rich program which produced former NBA all-star Jeff Hornacek and was led for years by one of the greatest coaches in state history in Ron Nikcevich has relied on a starless crew to bring a 20-0 record into a West Suburban Silver matchup on Friday night against a solid York team in Elmhurst.

History lesson No. 1: Lyons' state titles in 1953 and 1970 were accomplished without a blemish in the loss column. Can the Lions replicate what those great teams did? They definitely had more star power with the '53 team led by powerful Ted Caiazza inside and the '70 team fueled by the late Owen Brown and Marcus Washington.

Here are a few more college football decisions made in the last few days with signing day around the corner Wednesday...

Prospect offensive lineman Matt Huene has committed to the Air Force Academy.
Barrington defensive back Brett Seeger has committed to Drake. Seeger's brother Cody is a freshman at the school.
Barrington defensive back/linebacker Anthony Gentile will be a preferred walk-on at Illinois State.

It seems more boys basketball games than usual in the northwest suburbs this year have been hit with player technical difficulties. Ones where judgment seems to get clouded with players feeling the need to comment on officials decisions verbally, with nasty facial expressions or some other type of unsportsmanlike act.
It's already adversely affected one game I've seen and nearly did the same in another close game last night. Giving up points is not exactly the best way to make a point.
Here's a tip: Play the game and let the coaches talk to the officials. Walk away if you don't like the call or hand the ball to an official.
I'll have more on just how much of an effect a technical foul can have on a game in an upcoming column.

Even at the high school level, rumors are part of the deal. Most of them are little more than side banter - speculating on what's going to happen with certain coaches who are coming and going, who might be in the mix for another job, certain teams and why they're going in one direction or the other - that never sees the light of day.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with Maine South football and rumors that started circulating about a number of players testing positive for steroid use. A coach asked me Friday if I had heard about this rumor which was circulating through his circles - and he wasn't bringing it up with glee or a "you should try and get these guys" manner. Just wondering if I had heard anything about it.