By Bobby Narang
With basketball in full force throughout the state, the biggest underlying issue for high schools team is making sure the season runs its course.
Several teams in the state have experienced “shutdowns” because of cases of COVID-19. Many regions experienced upticks following Super Bowl Sunday parties, which triggered several outbreaks in clusters.
After the season was delayed nearly three months, Geneva boys basketball coach Scott Hennig said he’s put an emphasis on his program to be aware of the prospect of missing games.
“All the kids know what’s at state, so we just try and tell them to be smart and safe,” Hennig said. “The season could end at any point. We have exactly one month left in the season. It’s going to go quick, a month from today the season will be over. Every game we play is a gift because we can get shutdown just like that.”
Glenbard South boys coach Wade Hardtke said it’s important for his players to recognize the importance of putting themselves or their teammates in a position to miss game.
“Certainly there’s a lot to navigate, but we talk about trying to make good choices,” he said. “I’m not going to tell kids they can or can’t do things on some of choices they make. We only have a short season, so if something should happen, you’re looking at two weeks of possibility being shut down. From the get-go, that’s a third of your season.
“We make sure kids are making wise decisions or understand what the ramifications can be of those decisions. Our school doing saliva testing.”
Hardtke is among the numerous coaches that have noted how strange the season is, for some schools allow limited seating while other schools will not allow fans.
Every quarter features a 90-second mask timeout, and some coaches have chosen to spend halftime in the gymnasium with their teams.
“This is just a different year, especially with all the new perimeters and everything,” Hardtke said. “Our opener was a learning experience for everyone, including myself. We were not allowed to get there until 30 minutes before tipoff, only had 10 minutes to warmup.”
Geneva senior forward Dylan Fuzak said playing games is a big plus, even a limited amount.
“I didn’t think we would have a season, so just to have one is great,” Fuzak said. “It’s definitely different but we will take what we can get. Being a senior, all we get is 16 games. We’re trying to make the best out it and get that conference championship.”