Prep sports: November 2008 Archives

The IHSA expanded the state tournament to four classes last season. That addition received mixed reviews. The NCAA has moved the 3-point line from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches, but the IHSA hasn't followed that precedent. The only significant rule change this season involves the free-throw lane. To minimize rough play, the bottom block will be unoccupied and players will move up one space. This is a small detail you may not even notice - until it swings an important game late in the fourth quarter.

"It kind of gives the advantage back to the defensive team," said first-year Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. "If you watch any level - if you watch college games, if you watch high school games - you'll see missed free throw block-outs at crunch time when teams are trying to foul or if there's (a) big possession. Somebody misses a free throw and they come up with an offensive rebound. (Those) are absolute backbreakers."

Benet is seeking a lower level boys volleyball coach for the spring 2009 season. Interested candidates should contact athletic director Gary Goforth at 630-719-2825.

Neuqua Valley forward Derek Raridon, a 6-foot-5-inch senior, has committed to play for his father Todd next season at North Central College. Raridon averaged 12 points and five rebounds last season for a Neuqua team that won its first sectional title in school history.

The Cardinals (1-1) finished 10-15 last season. A preseason poll of the league's head coaches picked them to finish sixth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin in 2008-09.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee forward Ryan Haggerty is expected to redshirt his freshman season. The 6-foot-8-inch Benet graduate - who appeared on the recruiting radar late in his career - mentioned that as a possibility when he committed to the Panthers last winter.

Kevin O'Connor, the school's sports information director, indicated that a more formal announcement should be coming soon. The Panthers (3-1) take on Marquette on Saturday at the Bradley Center. The Horizon League's preseason poll picked them to finish sixth in conference.

"Ryan is a very versatile player who can play both inside and out. He is a good shooter, is skilled with the ball and really played well during the past year. He has shown a willingness to work on improving his game and his development really indicates his best basketball is ahead of him," Panthers coach Rob Jeter said on the team's Web site. "He is also an excellent student and comes from a disciplined, well-regarded high school program - both athletically and academically. We are thrilled to have him."

According to athletic director Marty Bee, the following Naperville Central student-athletes are expected to sign letters of intent Wednesday morning:

Drew Crawford (men's basketball): Northwestern University
Meghan Brey (women's volleyball): Oakland University
Mary Carroll (women's volleyball): Lewis University
Jill Fields (women's volleyball): South Dakota State University
Kelley Hendrick (women's basketball): University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Erin Lamb (women's swimming): University of Illinois
Emily McGee (women's volleyball): University of North Carolina
Chelsea Thurlby (women's volleyball): DePaul University

The baseball season calendar, which can be found here in a five-season block, is again under review. The IHSA has received 14 by-law amendment proposals, one of which would essentially move back the first day teams can play games by two weeks.

According to the IHSA's Web site, the final vote on the proposals by member schools will take place between Nov. 25-Dec. 24.

For the 2009 season, games can be scheduled for March 16 while the season is expected to end on June 13. Last season, within this column, we made our feelings known about overreacting to Chicago weather patterns in the age of global warming.

We will of course explore this issue further in the print edition - particularly how the amendments would impact the summer state tournament. But in the meantime we want to know your thoughts. What do you make of these proposed changes? When should the baseball season start and end?