Buffalo Grove won't bus students to state tourney

Buffalo Grove High School students will have to find their own ride to Illinois State University to watch the girls basketball team in the state finals this weekend.

Unlike the past two years, the school isn't sponsoring coach buses to Illinois State University because of liability issues and cost. Turns out last year, some students took the bus down there but were nowhere to be found when the game was over.

"It was a supervision problem," said Patrice Johannes, the school's principal.

The girls basketball team made it to the finals for the third year in a row by beating St. Charles North on Monday.

During the past two years, Buffalo Grove school officials have rented coach buses and charged kids $28 each for the ride to and from Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal.

It's an almost 300-mile round trip.

"It's a better idea to have parents in charge of making sure their kids get there and home safely," Johannes said.

Cost was also a factor.

It costs $12,000 to rent one bus. Last year, the school rented three buses, each one carrying about 40 students, Johannes said. The school would also have to pay for two chaperones, Johannes said.

"I still think our fans will go," she said. "A lot of parents drive down for the games."

Buffalo Grove (32-3) will face Whitney Young (28-3) at 8:15 p.m. Friday at Illinois State's Redbird Arena.

Because only four teams are still alive with new four-class system, Buffalo Grove will play for either third place or the state championship on Saturday.

Tickets are $10 each day and can be bought at the Redbird Arena or at Buffalo Grove High School.