11-15-2020
BY JACK BULLOCK

High school athletics have always been a source of interest that sometimes produce breath taking drama.

Memories are made, all to be cherished in the years to come.

Especially when it comes to postseason contests.

Trophies collecting dust while banners are hung from the rafters of gymnasiums across the state.

Hailing the winners and their accomplishments.

The state basketball tournament in the State of Illinois creates perhaps the most curiosity of all sports played at this level.

Long a passage of winter months, the eyes of fans and participants turn a keen eye to this sport for five months out of the year.

However it is the three week period beginning at the end of February and culminating in the middle of March, that collectively “trips our fancy.”Teams, fanatics, coaches, media members, etc, “Catch the Fever.”

It has long been called “March Madness.”

A time when the basketball season climaxes into a finite ending as state champions are crowned.

History records the results and writers pen the details.

It has always been fun to take a look back. At least for the victors.

The victims of the losses may not feel the same compassion or wonderment.

But there is one part of the equation in the sport of basketball that peaks the most interest.

“The Upset.”

The unexpected outcome of a game has always been at the forefront of the memories.

These unforeseen results have captivated the masses of sports enthusiasts for decades.

Most often a good or great team (regardless of the sport) has to play well to win.

Seldom do teams that fail to bring the “A or the B game” ever move on in a state tournament.

Nevertheless judging whether or not a result of a game should be categorized as an “upset” can become quite argumentative.

Most of the pressure put on the participants comes from the media and fans whom are the onlookers in the sport.

Boasting or posting predictions is part of the popularity of basketball.

Rankings, ratings, media polls, etc, try to project what is going to happen.

However the best part of high school basketball is that the players don't always follow the script that has been laid out by the “experts.”
Insert the old adage “It's why we play the games” in this spot.

Boy's sports are different by definition.

Unlike men's basketball at the professional and collegiate levels, these are “boys” playing against other “boys.”

Kids of teenage years expected to produce under the pressure of the contests while under the microscope of sometimes thousands of fans.

Many have to carry the burden of high expectations.

To some it is an albatross on their collective backs while others brandish “IT” as a shield in the face of danger.

It is the ones who handle the pressure that thrive and survive to play another game.

The ones who fail to deal with “the moment” get to lament the outcome forever.

The upsets in the history of the state continue to live on in our minds.

In the next few weeks ABV is going to take a look back at some of these games.

I've put together a list of contests that fit this category and are memorable to the fans from the ABV area.

All of these examples will come from postseason play from the state tournaments.

Since it appears that there will not be a 2020-21 basketball season, ABV will try to fill some of the void by reliving some of these memorable contests.

I hope you will enjoy these stories and that someday we will see the kids run up and down the floor again in person.