By Bobby Narang Northern Illinois University head football coach, Thomas Hammock, kicked off Spring practice by discussing the upcoming season. The former Northern Illinois star running back enters a pivotal year in his head coaching tenure after the Huskies lost all six of their games last season in the condensed
By Woodrow Carroll As nice as was Loyola University’s 71-58 victory over top-seeded Illinois Sunday, at least from the victorious Ramblers’ stand point in the Division I men’s college basketball tournament which started with a field of 68 teams, it was not the first time the Ramblers took a meaningful
West Aurora High School’s Elijah Hardersen, 6, receives a challenge from Plainfield East’s Joseph Duarte, 9, in the soccer match Thursday, March 18.
Oswego High School’s Xavier Howard, 20, shoots over visiting Metea Valley defenders Saturday in the non-conference basketball game.
By Woodrow Carroll True or false? The first team to enter the men’s NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball tournament undefeated ended up losing to Illinois. True of course! The question would have looked silly if Illinois were not the correct answer. The first NCAA tournament was in 1939 with
By Bobby Narang Benet Academy High School boys basketball head coach Gene Heidkamp made sure to take his time walking off the court Friday. The Redwings were one of the small group of boys and girls basketball teams to finish the truncated 2021 season March 12. The official end of
Sports continue in a state of flux. With the Major League Baseball season on the horizon in an April 1 start, the let up in the COVID-19 is by no means complete. Lurking around the corner are tests, cancellations, and postponements in the schedule of playing games. Few of us
East Aurora High School’s Jacques Kelly, 4, stretches for control of the ball under the basket Saturday in a battle for control of the Upstate Eight Conference boys basketball race against Bartlett High School
By Woodrow Carroll Some things fall into place after many rough moments. For Chicago’s Loyola University men’s head basketball coach Porter Moser the present and future have a rosy glow. Sunday in St. Louis, Mo., Moser’s Loyola Ramblers defeated the Drake Bulldogs, 75-65, to capture the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
March Madness refers to the time of the year when high school and college basketball tournaments generate enthusiasm, even growing to a fever pitch. High school basketball in the State, known as the Original March Madness, will be silent for a second consecutive year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last
By Bobby Narang The Rashon Burno era officially tipped off Monday afternoon. The former DePaul University guard was named the new Northern Illinois University (NIU) men’s basketball head coach Saturday afternoon. Burno, who coached three years at Marmion Academy in Aurora, 2007-2010, was officially introduced Monday during a press conference.
Thursday, March 11DuPage ValleyNaperville North at Metea Valley, 7 Non-conferenceBenet at Batavia, 7 Upstate Eight TournamentConsolation semifinalConsolation semifinalSemifinalSemifinal Friday, March 12Chicago Catholic White*Montini at Providence, 7 DuKaneBatavia at St. Charles East, 7Lake Park at Wheaton-Warr. South, 7St. Charles North at Glenbard N., 7Wheaton North at Geneva, 7 DuPage ValleyMetea Valley
Naperville Central High School guard Jonah Hinton moves past host Waubonsie Valley players, Isaiah Smith, 2, and Ben Schwieger, 3, in a DuPage Valley Conference game Friday in Aurora.
High school and college basketball teams, boys and girls, men and women, are grateful, mainly, just to have a season, which has been modified by COVID-19. High school players must wear masks in their six-week season. They are making the best of it. Players’ and fans’ adjustments include no annual
Aurora University’s Bailey Vance, left, and Rashad Johnson, both senior guards who were honored prior to Saturday’s 100-81 victory over visiting Illinois College in a non-conference basketball game, celebrate with head coach Matt Airy, right, and fans following improvement to a 6-3 overall record.
By Bobby Narang York High School senior point guard Jeff Grace is always lending a helping hand. From his freshman year, Grace quickly became a cornerstone in the York program. His ability to play multiple positions, along with his unflappable personality and toughness, helped the Dukes win numerous big games
Sports seasons continually overlap each year. This year we need a scorecard to keep the seasons straight, regardless of the sport. A few college football games, played by teams which did not play in the Fall, started last weekend. On the Division III level, Aurora University and Benedictine University, members
Benedictine University’s Allison Michalski, 32, blocks Aurora University’s Claudia Grunwald, 44, in Benedictine’s 68-41 win at Aurora Monday, March 1.
