The focus has shifted.
Instead of concerns over defensive play, new concepts, new players, or disqualifications, sports concerns have shifted to good health, spread of the various forms of the COVID-19 virus, and having a minimum number of participants on the court, on the ice, or, in the field.
No sport is immune.
The National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, college sports, high school sports, all have been assailed with COVID-19 problems. It is ominous.
Yet, there is no substitute for good health. Protocols and minimum orientation for participation have been established.
In college basketball , it was decided that no team in the top division can play without the availability of seven scholarship players. They acquire the majority of the playing time, which is logical, and the game will not be the same without their presence in an impacting way. It is a difficult situation and the less finger-pointing the closer we are to finding solutions. Individual responsibility is the first step to being healthy and working a way to participation.
• A look at high school basketball results in the last week reveals many rivalry games. In the DuKane and DuPage Conferences it is difficult not to play rivalry games, however, going right down the line we see games among the main rivals: In DuKane, boys basketball, Friday, Dec. 17, it was revelry and dejection with Batavia 55, Geneva 42; St. Charles North 62, St. Charles East 49; Wheaton Warrenville South 49, Wheaton North 30; Lake Park 65, neighbor, Glenbard North, 47.
• In the DuPage Conference the same night results included: District 203 rivals, Naperville Central 50, Naperville North 32; District 204 rivals, Neuqua Valley 63, Metea Valley, 48; and budding rivals, DeKalb 45, Waubonsie Valley, 41. Saturday, Dec. 18 in non-conference, it was Downers Grove North 58, Downers Grove South 32.
• Aurora area long-timers will recall that the two original public schools would play two varsity boys games each season, first at West Aurora prior to the Pontiac tournament and later in the season at East Aurora. The teams were in the same conference. This year there will be one game and for both boys and girls, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at East Aurora. East Aurora is in the Upstate Eight Conference and West Aurora is in the Southwest Prairie West.
High school holiday tournaments have started and offer continuity and excitement.