South Central Reporter

The Illinois High School Association's defiance of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's attempt to put off the state's upcoming high school basketball season over COVID-19 concerns was the right choice, a Trenton basketball coach said.

"I think the IHSA ignoring the governor's orders is an excellent decision," Brent Brede, Wesclin Community Unit School District #3 boys basketball coach and social sciences teacher, told South Central Reporter. 

"It's not only an excellent decision, it's the right decision," said Brede. 

Wesclin Community Unit School District #3 Social Sciences Teacher and Boys Basketball Coach Brent Brede, in 2015 photo | https://www.facebook.com/wesclinboysbasketball/

Brede stated that Pritzker did not make his case for delaying the season.

"The governor's office has yet to produce any science or metrics that shows that playing basketball is a danger to those involved," he said. "Secondly, all states that surround Illinois played fall football with very little issue. Those same states plan to go ahead and play basketball, which is seen as having the same risk level as football."  

Few issues were reported in basketball play nationwide, said Brede.

"There are countless club and AAU basketball tournaments being played throughout the United States....Many of our players have gone to neighboring Missouri to participate in those types of games with no issues. Basketball needs to be played in Illinois and can be done safely," said Brede.

Pritzker, with guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health that had just moved basketball from the "medium risk" category to "higher risk" in its winter safety guidelines, announced high school basketball and wrestling in the state would be "on hold."

The day after Pritzker's announcement, IHSA's Board of Directors voted in a special meeting to proceed with the basketball season as scheduled. The board also set schedules for other sports, including "low risk sports" such as swimming and diving, cheerleading, bowling and gymnastics, according to an IHSA announcement.

The IHSA made those decisions following guidance from its Sport Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC). Boys and girls basketball practice will begin Nov. 26, according to the announcement.

Play can begin "within an Illinois COVID Region or within a conference" on Nov. 30, the announcement said.

Teams will follow limitations that allow a maximum of 31 games and masks will be worn by players, coaches, and officials during play, according to the IHSA announcement.

"It will become a local school decision to determine if a school will allow their basketball teams to participate following the guidelines developed by the SMAC," the IHSA announcement said.

Since the announcement, fewer than 34 high schools are certain their basketball seasons will start this month, according to Chicago Sun-Times sources.

Wesclin is moving ahead with its basketball season, despite all the drama.

"Right now, our school plans on going forward with the basketball season," said Brede. 

"We have gotten the okay legally as well as with our insurance company. We hope that the governor will stay out of the way and allow our athletes to compete and build life lessons and memories that will last a lifetime," said Brede.