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Mt. Morris Times / oglecountynews.com • Friday, November 13, 2020
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BNC says no to conference hoops slate BY ERIC INGLES eingles@shawmedia.com There might be high school basketball in Illinois this school year or there might not be, but if and when teams in the Big Northern Conference take the court, there will not be a BNC title to play for. The conference announced Nov. 6 that it will not hold a conference schedule in either boys or girls basketball. The decision to play any games will be up to the individual district. “It’s out of my control, out of our players’ control,” Rock Falls boys basketball coach Zach Sandrock said. “Obviously we want to have a basketball season, but we want to do so in a safe manner. Hopefully at some point that comes to be and we can have a season and those seniors get to play.” For coaches, and even athletic directors, the decision is out of their hands, having to wait on those above them in the district to weigh in. “I think there’s quite a few different views within the different schools and communities,” Dixon athletic director Jared Shaner said. “Ultimately, it will be a school-by-school decision. At some schools, that will come from the super-
intendent, in others it will be a board of education decision.” That will be the situation at Dixon, where the board could decide as early as next week how to proceed. Basketball players and coaches were taken on a roller coaster ride of sorts last week, as the IHSA and the governor’s office made conflicting statements about whether or not practices would begin as planned November 16. The IHSA reshuffling of the sports calendar in July moved football, boys soccer and volleyball to the spring, while leaving basketball relatively untouched. But with COVID-19 cases rising in recent months, the basketball season began to seem more and more jeopardy.
The announcement by the BNC comes one day after the Diocese of Rockford, which oversees six Catholic high schools including Sterling Newman, announced its schools would not be competing in boys or girls basketball due to COVID-19. “Everybody was taken back by the decision,” Newman athletic director Mike Papoccia said. “But, even though it sounds like it’s against the kids, it’s for the kids to keep them safe. I don’t know if they’re going to try in January to see if this thing dies down.” Until then, basketball teams get to play the waiting game. Papoccia said the IHSA is looking for a place to schedule basketball if enough schools opt not to play, but that could result in basketball and another sport, such as football, being scheduled at the same time, which for a school as small as Newman – with rosters packed with multi-sport athletes – that would be a tough thing to ask of them. There may be games, but there will be no BNC crown to play for. Papoccia said the Three Rivers Conference is expected to make a decision next week on whether or not to play a conference schedule once games resume.
BRIEFS Mobile Food Pantry in Mt. Morris on Monday, Nov. 16 Loaves & Fish Food Pantry, alongside Northern Illinois Food Bank, will host a Mobile Food Pantry on Monday, Nov. 16, from 1-2:30 p.m. The truck will be located at Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren, 409 West Brayton Road, Mt. Morris. This mobile pantry is open anyone in Ogle County. This is an “extra” food distribution. Loaves & Fish Pantry serves families in Mt. Morris and Leaf River in need of food, and is open on the first and third Thursdays from 4:30 – 7 p.m. and second and fourth Mondays from 2-4:30 p.m. You do not need a referral, and no proof of income is required. The pantry is located in the lower level of the Mt. Morris Church of the Brethren, 409 W. Brayton Road, Mt. Morris. For more information, call 815-734-4573 or 815-734-4250 and leave a message.
Members are needed to serve on Mt. Morris Park Board Members are needed for the Mt. Morris Park Board. “Want to get involved? Have great ideas for the community? Join us!!,” said board
member Jim Hopkins. “We are in need of three new board members.” Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Mt. Morris Village Hall, February through November. For more info call the Village Hall at 815734-6425..
Drive-thru meal is Nov. 14 The Leaf River Lions Club will be holding another “Drive Thru” Brat and Hot Dog meal on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The drive thru will be located at the old fire station next to the Bertolet Memorial building on Second Street. Cost for the meal is strictly a donation only as there will not be a charge. The Lions are grateful for the wonderful turnout at the previous drive thru. The profit from this drive thru will go to the Homeless Veterans Drop-In Center in Rockford. The Leaf River Lions have been taking a meal to the center, but since the COVID-19 has come along the center requests only cash for them to use as best needed. The center would normally provide a noon meal and evening lunch to several needy Veterans in the surrounding communities.
They also have clothing and some canned goods veterans can choose from. If a Veteran finds housing they also help with furniture to be used in the house. Please help the Lions support such a worthy cause for our needy veterans! Lion workers will be wearing their masks as they prepare the brats and hot dogs. Just get in your car or truck and drive thru, say HI and get a complimentary meal. There will be a donation canister available for anyone that wishes. At this time, it does not look likely the breakfasts will resume this year. Keep looking as another drive thru could be coming!
Blood drive on Nov. 23 The Leaf River United Methodist Church will host a Community Blood Drive on Monday, Nov. 23. Staff from the Rock River Valley Blood Center will draw blood between 12 - 6 p.m. Donors need to be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Warner at 815-7382508 or the Rock River Valley Blood Center at 815/965-8751, toll free at 877-RRVBC-99 or on the web at www.rrvbc.org.
