In college and high school basketball, both in men and women and in boys and girls, we are not in magical March Madness, however, February fosters fun and interest. Call it February Frenzy because teams are more finely tuned than at the start, seek to weave improvement prior to March Madness, and apparent upsets may be more than upsets, just teams settling in to move up in the standings and to prepare for the tournaments. Big Ten Conference men’s standings show it.
Let it be known:
• There are not many days until Major League Baseball prepares for Spring baseball with the reporting of pitchers and catchers. Both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs will have the first group report February 15 and position players report February 20. Hope springs eternal.
• Competition produces excellence, even in high school cheer meets through sectional and State. Excellent photos by Alex Rodriguez on pages 1, 8, 12. Oswego High School advanced to the State meet for the first time and took sixth place. Precision, enthusiasm, consistency, take practice and hard work.
• Early February tournaments include boys and girls Little Ten Conference basketball recently concluded. Serena won both boys and girls. The boys have played conference tournaments for more than 100 years. Serena defeated Hinckley-Big Rock, 54-46, for the Al Stegman Trophy. Serena girls defeated Newark, 38-30.
• Bobby Narang’s superb coverage of high school Marmion Academy Sectional wrestling tournament is on page 10 and reminds us that State meets are upon us or, will be soon. Boys State wrestling meet for individuals will be February 16-18 in Champaign and State boys team duel meet will be February 24-25.
• The first girls State wrestling meet was held last year. Good for them!
• Boys basketball State meets in four classes will be March 9-11. They will be here soon.
• The end of the football season will be the Super Bowl between Philadelphia and Kansas City. More often than not we have surprises. Both teams have produced excellence this season. Neither team has offered many surprises with their success.
• Oswego girls bowling team won the Romeoville Regional. The State meet for girls will be February 17-18 in Rockford.
• Last weekend rivals in boys basketball met for fun and excitement with Batavia’s 48-37 victory against Geneva. Upset?