Hampshire hoping long layoff doesn't hurt in regional
When Hampshire put together its 2008-09 boys basketball schedule last winter, it did so under the assumption it would remain in Class 2A despite the opening of the new high school.
Thus, the school scheduled its final regular-season game for Feb. 20.
The IHSA threw a wrench in the works, however, when it elevated Hampshire to Class 3A last summer. That meant Hampshire would sit idle for at least 10 days between its regular-season finale and the first date for Class 3A playoff games, which begin a week later than the Class 2A tournament.
The Whips were fortunate when Richmond-Burton agreed to reschedule a game postponed by arctic weather to Monday, Feb. 23, shortening their idle time. However, they drew the Wednesday semifinal at this week's Class 3A Burlington Central regional, meaning 10 days will have elapsed between games, which is hardly ideal at tournament time.
"We haven't played since Monday, so hopefully the 10 days doesn't hurt us," Hampshire coach Bob Barnett said.
No. 3 Hampshire (17-8) will face No. 2 Kaneland (13-12) in Wednesday's semifinal at 7:30 p.m. The teams have met twice this season. The Knights beat Hampshire 51-43 at the Marengo Holiday Tournament on Dec. 27. The Whips returned the favor with a 51-44 victory in Hampshire on Jan. 31.
Hampshire's starting five of similar 6-foot-2 athletes will face the Kaneland front line of 6-foot-7 senior Christian Dillon and 6-9 junior center David Dudzinski.
"Kaneland's good," Barnett said. "They're long. They play a 1-3-1 (zone defense) and a 3-2. When you go 6-9, 6-7, it's going to make it tough for us.
"We have an idea of what we want to do, and we're putting some different things in because we've seen them twice and they've seen us twice. We want to change some things up but not get away from what we've been doing."
No. 5 Burlington Central (12-13) opens the regional against No. 4 Sycamore (9-16) in the play-in game on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans beat Central 72-60 in Sycamore on Jan. 31.
The winner advances to Tuesday's play-in game against No. 1 Wheaton Academy (15-8), which has beaten Class 4A opponents Streamwood, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South this season. The winner of the Burlington Central regional advances to the Rochelle sectional on Tuesday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m. to play the winner of the Sterling regional, where Freeport (14-13) is the top seed.