KRC set to start hoops on Feb. 9; FVC hoping for Feb. 10

The Kishwaukee River Conference plans to start basketball on Tuesday, Feb. 9 and play games each Tuesday and Friday through March 13.

The KRC athletic directors met on Friday to work out scheduling. The IHSA announced its sports schedule for the rest of the year on Wednesday and said that schools in COVID-19 regions that have reached Phase 4 under Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines can start their winter sports seasons amid the pandemic.

Region 9 (McHenry and Lake Counties) is trending toward Phase 4, which would allow basketball, considered a higher-risk sport by the IDPH, to be played. Phase 4 requires a positivity rate of less than or equal to 6.5% for three consecutive days as measured by the seven-day rolling average.

Fox Valley Conference athletic directors also met on Friday, but their plans are pending approval from their administrations. The FVC has a tentative start date for basketball set for Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Richmond-Burton athletic director Kristi Martin said the six-team KRC will play a double round-robin format for boys and girls basketball, once Region 9 meets Phase 4 requirements.

The KRC will have girls games at one school and boys at another on the same night to help limit crowds. For example, if R-B’s girls hosted Woodstock, Woodstock’s boys would host R-B that same night.

Freshman, junior varsity and varsity games will all be held that night at one of the schools. Martin said each school is working on the number of fans that will be permitted in the gyms. The IDPH currently has a limit of 50 fans for events for regions in Phase 4.

Martin said the KRC schools are all working toward live streaming games online since most fans will not be able to attend.

Some area schools will start competition in bowling on Wednesday. Bowling is considered a lower-risk sport and can compete, under IDPH guidelines, in Tier 1.

ESCC is ready

Marian Central athletic director Curtis Price said the Hurricanes boys basketball team will start on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Carmel, if Region 9 can reach Phase 4.

Marian’s girls basketball team is scheduled to start on Wednesday, Feb. 10 against Marist. Region 11 (Chicago) has reached Tier 1 and would also need to reach Phase 4 for that game to be played on that date.

Price also said the Hurricanes fencing team, which is a low-risk club sport, is putting together its schedule and has started practice.

A-H set to go

Alden-Hebron, playing in the Northeastern Athletic Conference, is scheduled to start its basketball games on Monday, Feb. 8. A-H AD John Lalor said the NAC plans on playing three games a week through the week of March 6.

At that point, Lalor said some schools will opt to start practices for football or volleyball, while others may schedule another week’s worth of basketball games.