Games good, atmosphere not at first Class 3A and 4A finals

PEORIA -- The debate rages without abatement.

A four-class boys basketball state tournament is in the books, but opinion continues to be deeply divided among coaches as to its legitimacy.

"I thought the games were pretty good for the most part," said West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman, a staunch opponent of class expansion. "I didn't like the atmosphere. It didn't have the same state tournament feel. There was hardly anyone there."

Steve Goers directed Rockford Boylan to a state-record seven consecutive sectional titles under the Class AA format, and he is No. 2 on the state's all-time wins list with 815.

"The schools that came down here were very good," Goers said. "However, you tarnish what the schools have attained. I would rather finish second in a two-class system than become a champion in a four-class tournament."

But the new format also has its fair share of support.

"I think it's a phenomenal idea to have four high schools win a state championship," said Evanston coach Bobby Locke, whose squad defeated Lockport 56-52 to capture the Class 4A consolation prize. "It's human nature for people to adjust to different circumstances. I don't think (a four-class) tournament is going to hurt us."

Simeon and Lockport were holdovers from the final year of the two-class tournament.

"The thing I liked about (a four-class) tournament was that we were guaranteed a second game," said Lockport coach Larry Thompson, whose team was sent packing after a quarterfinal loss to O'Fallon last year. "That's the most positive I can say about (the new format)."

"Look at North Chicago as a perfect example," East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries said of a program that lost to eventual Class 3A Marshall in the Sears Centre supersectional. "They had never won a sectional before."

Representatives of the IHSA have publicly stated that reversion to a two-class system is not out of the question.

"I think they will have to wait a couple or three years (to make a final decision on the format)," Kerkman said. "That will be about the time the (current) contract runs out. If they keep having crowds like this, Peoria may not make as strong a bid."

Looking ahead: The state tournament coincided with Illinois' unexpected run into the Big Ten championship game, and a number of highly sought-after players had a keen interest in the outcome.

Simeon first-team all-state center Stan Simpson is excited about his prospects in Champaign beginning this fall.

"Coach (Bruce) Weber told me I was going to play a lot anyway," Simpson said in response to the pending graduation of Shaun Pruitt and the departure of Brian Carlwell. "I think I can help right away."

Weber has already received oral commitments from a stable of top-rated underclassmen, and two other players prominently featured at the tournament are equally interested.

"I will start naming my schools (of interest) this summer," said Marshall guard Darius Smith, whom Commandos coach Courtney Hargrays called "the best junior in the state."

"I would be interested in any big school like that," Smith said when directly asked if the Illini were on his short list.

Weber attended Northern Illinois' Class 3A/4A supersectional doubleheader Tuesday to get a progress report on Sterling junior Joe Bertrand, and Zion-Benton sophomore sensation Lenzelle Smith caught his eye.

"Coach Weber contacted my father this week," Smith said Friday after helping the Zee-Bees reach the title game against Richards.

Public League power: The Chicago Public League's decision to relinquish its automatic qualifier to the state tournament is ancient history.

When league members Simeon and Marshall met in the Class 3A championship game on Saturday afternoon, Calvin Davis could barely contain his joy.

"It's a great feeling for me," said Davis, the Public League chief administrator for athletics. "It speaks to the strength of basketball in the Public League. We had four state champions (between boys and girls).

Class expansion has given us additional opportunities, and we took advantage of it."

Wildcats connection: Northwestern and the Western suburbs will be inextricably linked with Glenbard West center John Shurna and Batavia forward Nick Fruendt joining Mike Capocci, the Glenbard East product who recently concluded his freshman year in Evanston.

Shurna and Fruendt were selected to the Class 4A coaches' first-team all-state team over the weekend.

"Whatever they ask me to do," Shurna said. "It's a bunch of great guys (on the team). I look forward to the next four years and playing with them."