Matt Varney got on the phone with several area basketball coaches Tuesday evening when the news came out that Governor J.B. Pritzker and IDPH had raised basketball from a medium-risk sports to a high-risk sport.    Take a listen to how area coaches reacted to the news:

0:16 - Murphysboro Basketball coach Daryl Murphy

4:24 - Benton Basketball coach Ron Winemiller

10:21 - Nashville Basketball coach Wayne Harre

17:27 - Herrin Basketball coach Sayler Shurtz

23:37 - Pinckneyville Basketball coach Bob Waggoner

27:25 - Sesser-Valier Basketball coach Shane Garner

33:00 - Harrisburg Girls Basketball coach Jake Stewart

40:01 - Carbondale Basketball coach Jim Miller

 

Matt Varney speaks with Harrisburg Girls coach Jake Stewart about the team's success at the Lady Eagle Winter Classic, a bit of a rough patch this past week, how the passing of Kobe Bryant affected him, and more!

 
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Anthony Hargrove is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton co-op football team.  Matt Varney went out to practice to talk with Coach Hargrove about the program finally reaching the maturation point, studs on the team like Peyton Mazur (who is receiving attention across the state) and Cole Gelso, Hargrove's daughter Amiah - who should dominate on the basketball court the next four years - and more!

 
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IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson spoke with Matt Varney about some of the burning questions surrounding Illinois High School Athletics during the era of COVID-19.  Why must IHSA ask for control of decision-making back when they are not a government entity? How can basketball players play while being expected to wear a face mask?  Is there any hope for fall sports like football, volleyball, and boy's soccer returning this fall?  All those and more questions were answered in this interview.

 
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