Schaumburg's Payne will try to play at Sears Centre on Saturday
Cully Payne called it "so-so news" about no definitive word Friday on the back issues that have plagued the Schaumburg senior boys basketball star.
Payne said it may be a couple of days before he gets the results on a bone scan performed Friday. He also said he plans to try and play in Saturday's 6:30 p.m. game against Jacobs as part of the 12th annual High School Hoops Showdown at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.
"It will probably be a tip-off decision," Payne said Friday afternoon on the way back from the doctor to Schaumburg's basketball practice. "It feels a little bit better.
"They want to make sure it's not a stress fracture on the vertebrae. That's what they're trying to rule out and that's the big worry."
The Alabama-bound Payne, who is averaging 22 points a game, said Wednesday and Thursday were the worst his back has felt in the last month. He sat out Thursday night's Mid-Suburban West showdown where Schaumburg (15-2), ranked eighth in The Associated Press Class 4A state poll, won 61-51 at 10th-ranked Hoffman Estates (13-2).
But Payne said some anti-inflammatory medication and muscle relaxers were helping and he planned to try and practice Friday.
"It was tough sitting out (Thursday) night," Payne said. "And especially (Saturday), we got invited and they made a big deal about me being there, so there's a lot of motivation to go and play for my teammates.
"It was great (how they played Thursday). It was a huge win."
Schaumburg also has another key MSL West game coming up at Conant on Jan. 24. Payne said he can't pinpoint any specific collision or incident that started his back trouble.
"That's the weird thing," Payne said of never having any previous back trouble. "It really started about a month ago. It felt tight and I played through it.
"I kept playing through it and it got worse and worse."
The Saxons face a Jacobs (13-2) team on an 11-game winning streak behind 6-foot-5 South Dakota-bound Conrad Krutwig.
The 4:30 p.m. opener is an MSL West matchup between Conant (10-5) and Barrington (3-14). Defending Class 2A state champion North Lawndale and perennial power St. Joseph play at 8:30 p.m.