Getting Prepped

Well, last year's fear came true right away this year. My 3A title pick, North Lawndale, gets cut down by Champaign Centennial, guaranteeing me already 3 losses in my state tourney picks after going 6-2 last year.
Oh well. In a way, I look at it the same way I always have with NCAA tourney pools - once that upset or unexpected looks as if it starts happening I usually get pulled toward hoping that happens. And even though Centennial ended the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, most everyone expected No. 2 North Lawndale to roll to a title.

I'm a big fan of The Weather Channel. I'm always interested in their historic looks at major weather events, how and why they happened and what happened as a result.
Now it's that time of year where the Weather Channel becomes required viewing because of how the elements affect spring sports. I'm watching intently as Jim Cantore, Mike Seidel, Vivian Brown and Co. explain how a front is going to blast into the area around 5 p.m. and whether it might wipe out a whole bunch of games and events. It's a big part of the pregame preparation.

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.

Standout Palatine QB Matt Rossi has made a commitment to play at Augustana. Rossi was a three-year starter for the Pirates, led them to consecutive playoff trips and a share of the Mid-Suburban West title in a senior year where he was also a Daily Herald All-Area selection.

The big news a lot of people in Waukegan hoped for came down Monday night when the Bulldogs' junior star Jereme Richmond was cleared by IHSA czar Marty Hickman to play in Wednesday's sectional semifinal with Zion-Benton. Richmond picked up two technical fouls in Friday's Hoffman Estates regional final win over Fremd - the latter when he was whistled for hanging on the rim when he tried to dunk a pass off the backboard from a teammate with about 4 1-2 minutes left.
Hickman reviewed the tape of the play and determined that Richmond deserved a technical for what happened but did not believe it was an unsportsmanlike act that warranted a suspension that would go with his ejection from the game (the result of getting 2 Ts).

I stuck with the Class 4A girls third-place and title games even though they were devoid of any drama or doubt in the final few minutes. What surprised me and bugged me was how long coaches on both sides (winning and losing) stuck with their starters even though it was clear there were no miracle comebacks coming, no signs of any huge runs building to win a race against time. It's long been referred to as garbage time, but it's hardly trash for kids who have worked hard in practice and behind the scenes for years to grab just more than a few seconds of playing time on the state's biggest stage.

Wheeling student activities director Steve May was one proud guy Thursday night. With good reason since the girls basketball team finally broke through and won its first sectional title 57-39 over Lake Zurich to advance to Monday's supersectional at Elgin Community College.
On Tuesday night the perennial powerful wrestling team of veteran coach Neal Weiner also made history by reaching the Elite Eight dual team tournament for the first time. The Wildcats will face powerful Glenbard North on Saturday in Bloomington.
Even a boys basketball loss to Palatine on Tuesday night wasn't a complete loss for May. Point guard Mark Knoeppel, May's nephew, scored 10 points for the Pirates.

Although we do have deadlines to worry about, there are some games you'd love to see go on and on. And we were inches away from at least a second overtime in the Mid-Suburban League boys championship as Prospect held on for its first crown in 23 years with a 61-57 win over Schaumburg.
The last 14 minutes were filled with back and forth drama that made it quite a show for the full house at Prospect. Prospect guard Joe LaTulip had a night filled with highlight-reel plays and Schaumburg senior Josh Spandiary banked in not one but two 3-pointers. It was definitely one of the most exciting title games in years.

Schaumburg's boys basketball program and Cully Payne didn't get the news they were hoping for Friday morning. MRI results revealed the stress fractures in his lower back have not completely healed and will need at least four more weeks to do so, which would end the senior star's regular season and high school career. Payne said last Saturday his back was feeling a lot better and he hoped to play in tonight's Mid-Suburban West showdown with Hoffman Estates.

Just talked with Schaumburg boys basketball coach Bob Williams and he said there has still been no word on results of Wednesday's MRI on star Cully Payne's back injury that has kept him out of the last eight games. Williams said "he won't play (Friday), he's definitely out" for Friday's Mid-Suburban West showdown with visiting Hoffman Estates, which has already clinched a share of the division title.
Too bad because I know I'm not alone with a lot of people - some 3,000-plus who will probably be at Schaumburg on Friday night - to see him back on the court.
The Saxons hope he'll be back next week - and they hope that's Wednesday in the MSL title game at Prospect. Whoever wins tonight between Hoffman and Schaumburg will claim the West Division berth.