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Snow throws regional schedules for a loop

Just when the boys basketball playoffs were starting to heat up, Tuesday’s winter storm threw a cold, wet blanket over the entire area.

Every DuPage County team scheduled to play Tuesday had its game postponed because of the heavy snow that arrived during the afternoon. In its wake athletic directors and coaches hoped to find a reasonable solution for rescheduling backed up games.

The Class 4A regionals at Oswego East, Batavia and Glenbard North — those that planned a semifinal doubleheader for Tuesday — simply moved the doubleheader to Wednesday. That still gives all teams involved a day off to prepare for Friday’s final.

At Hoffman Estates, however, four quarterfinal teams now face the prospect of possibly playing three straight days. Glenbard West and Addison Trail were scheduled to play Tuesday, but if one of those teams reaches the final, they’ll be playing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday if they can pull off a semifinal upset.

“You know you’re going to play back-to-back, but three games would be tough if it turned out that way,” said Hilltoppers coach Tim Hoder. “It’s disappointing. The kids haven’t played since last Wednesday, so they’re ready to go.”

Also at the Schaumburg sectional, the York and Proviso West regional games were pushed back a day. Tuesday’s scheduled games will be played Wednesday, while Wednesday’s originally scheduled games will be played on Thursday.

At the Bolingbrook sectional the Benet regional and the Wheaton Warrenville South regional will proceed the same way. At Benet that means the Redwings will play Plainfield North on Wednesday and Naperville Central will play Naperville North on Thursday.

“Whoever wins wants to have that extra day off,” said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer. “Now that’s not going to happen, so it’s tough.”

In Class 3A Tuesday’s doubleheader at IMSA — featuring Wheaton Academy against Aurora Central and St. Francis against Kaneland — will be played Wednesday. Glenbard South’s single regional games will be bumped to Wednesday and Thursday.

“The timing’s horrible but there’s not much you can do about it,” said Benet coach Gene Heidkamp. “I’d rather be playing, but it’s the same for everyone.”

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