Harper women host Lake County
It is a busy week for both the men's and women's basketball teams at Harper College.
Both teams play three games in seven days.
Fortunately for women's coach Mark Smith's squad, all three games will be played on campus at the Sports and Wellness Center.
On Tuesday night, the Hawks got their homestand started with a 58-38 loss to Moraine Valley. Sophomore Peggy Parhas (Lake Zurich) fouled out with 8:36 left in the contest. "We have to figure out what to do when (guard Peggy Parhas) is not in the game," Smith said of the sophomore.
In a strange scheduling twist, Thursday will be ladies-only at Harper as College of Lake County (2-1) travels to Palatine to play the Hawks.
"The freshman are a little tentative right now," said Smith, who believes that if the Hawks improve their defense, the wins will come.
The Lancers split a pair of games last week in Quincy, where they defeated Carl Sandburg College (68-49) but lost to John Wood College (65-45).
On Saturday, the Hawks women play their first of five matinees this season as Olive-Harvey visits the Sports and Wellness Center at 1 p.m.
• The Harper men's team is coming off a 91-82 loss to Moraine Valley on Tuesday.
"To start 2-2 is OK," coach Tony Amarino said of his team's start.
The task ahead for the Hawks isn't easy. They travel to NJCAA Division II's No. 5-ranked team, Kishwaukee Community College, on Thursday.
"We have our hands full (Thursday)," Amarino said.
The Kougars are 6-0 this season and defeated N4C member and NJCAA Division III second-ranked team College Of DuPage 79-57 on Tuesday.
"They (Kishwaukee) play extremely hard," Amarino said.
Kishwaukee is only giving up an average of 68 points while shooting nearly 54 percent themselves.
Amarino believe his team likes the challenge of playing such a highly regarded team.
On Saturday, the Hawks will be back on their home court to face Olive-Harvey at 3 p.m. Olive-Harvey will be coming off a road game against NAIA school Olivet-Nazarene. Amarino believes that if the Hawks can control the tempo they will come away victorious.
"They're going to want to make it a track meet," Amarino said.