IHSA moving basketball supers back to their roots

Hinsdale Central athletic director Paul Moretta wasted no time.

When he heard last summer about an IHSA policy change regarding the move of boys basketball supersectionals from college stadiums back to high schools, he put in a phone call to Bloomington.

"It was such a great opportunity for us," Moretta said. "I wanted to make sure they knew we were interested."

It wasn't the first time Moretta expressed interest in bringing the supersectional back to Hinsdale. IHSA assistant executive director Kurt Gibson recently attended a sectional gymnastics meet at Hinsdale Central, and Moretta made sure to display the full glory of the Red Devils' historic gymnasium.

Much has changed since 2001 when the school last hosted a boys supersectional. New ceiling baffles effectively spread the noise throughout the gym. A new sound system and speakers replaced the ancient system that Moretta compared to something you'd see strapped to the roof of the Blues Brothers' car.

But as much as the gymnasium modernized, the true attraction remains the sense of history oozing from every corner of the facility. For so many basketball fans through the decades, Hinsdale Central was the place where legends were made.

"Since college I bet I went to Hinsdale Central about 15 times," said York coach Al Biancalana, who was also an assistant coach on two Leo teams that played in the Hinsdale Central supersectional in 1986 and 1987.

"Some great memories in that gym," he said. "It was a right of passage to go to Hinsdale Central and be a part of something special. It has character and tradition. It has everything."

And now Hinsdale Central has a supersectional. Again.

In March the Red Devils will host the champions of the Neuqua Valley and Lyons Twp. sectionals, who will play for a spot in the Class 4A semifinals in Peoria. Based on the past few years, it's a supersectional that likely would have been held at Chicago State University.

The move awakens an avalanche of memories, and the motives are clear.

"There are some (college) venue charges that are a little steep," Gibson said. "This will give some of our member schools a chance to share in the revenue of hosting a supersectional."

Playing on a college court used to be special, and the intensity magnified in a supersectional showdown.

Between shootouts and even everyday regular-season games, however, teams are taking advantage of the many opportunities to play at colleges and even pro sites like the United Center. It's not a unique experience anymore.

"There was a time when there was a certain mystique about playing on a college court before getting downstate," Gibson said, "but it's become an old argument because kids are playing on college courts more and more during the season."

The college atmosphere also pales in comparison to the intimacy of a high school gym such as Hinsdale Central.

"The idea of trying to accommodate as many fans as possible in a college facility is nice," Biancalana said, "but it just doesn't create the same atmosphere as some of the old historic gyms."

The switch is far from complete. Elgin High School also will host a 4A supersectional, but so will Illinois State University and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Four high schools in the other three classes will host supersectionals, which shows the IHSA clearly heading in that direction. Hopefully they'll bring a supersectional back to East Aurora in the very near future.

For now, enjoy the return of the good ol' days at Hinsdale Central. And make sure you get there early.

"You talk to people who have been at Hinsdale Central for a while and they talk about the great players and the great atmosphere at some of those games," Moretta said. "That's what we want to bring back for basketball fans."

kschmit@dailyherald.com