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I think everyone wished they would, but few felt it would happen. Surprise!


Today the IHSA announced that they will follow the guidance of the IHSA Sport Medicine Advisory Committee and allow boys and girls basketball to proceed. In addition, wrestling was moved from a winter sport to the summer sport season.


Just moments ago, I had a chance to talk with Carterville Lions Athletic Director

Brett Dial about the events the last two days.





In case you missed it, here is the statement from the IHSA in full:


“The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors made the decision today to continue with the IHSA basketball season as scheduled in 2020-21. In August, the Board slated basketball to take place from November to February based on the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) assigning a medium risk level to the sport. The IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) offered additional mitigations, such as masks during play and social distancing on benches, that the SMAC believed would allow basketball to be played safely. 


The high school basketball season was potentially put on hold on October 27, when Governor Pritzker announced that IDPH had changed basketball’s risk level from medium risk to high risk.


After diligent discussion, the Board has made the decision today to follow the recommendation of the IHSA SMAC as it relates to basketball. The Board remains considerate of rising COVID-19 cases in Illinois and understand the importance of adhering to safety guidelines for the good of all citizens. However, the Board has not been presented any causal evidence that rising COVID-19 cases make basketball more dangerous to play by the IDPH or any other health organization nationally or internationally. On the contrary, the IHSA has been looking to bordering states who have sponsored both medium risk and high risk sports in the fall that have noted a low incident rate of COVID-19 spread.


Instead, we will require all IHSA basketball teams to adhere to those SMAC mitigations, and allow local school officials to make decisions related to participation.


Mounting challenges, from increased mental health issues among our students to a shrinking calendar that limits our ability to move sport seasons this school year, were instrumental in this decision to move forward with basketball as scheduled. We see our students regularly leaving the state to play sports, or covertly continuing to play locally. Students can be better protected in the high school setting, and the Board remains steadfast that playing under IHSA rules and SMAC mitigation is the safest way to conduct athletics at this juncture.


Illinois is a large and diverse state, and the IHSA membership is reflective of that. We understand that this decision will impact each high school and district differently. Some schools who remain in remote learning may not be able to start winter sports on time, and we feel for those in that situation. However, we have also learned that we cannot continue to look down the road to a season that may never come.


Contact days for our teams this fall have been an incredible boon to our students’ well-being. We fear for the mental health of students who attempt to traverse a long winter with no athletic outlet available. So much about dealing with this virus has been learned in the past eight months, and this decision will grant the membership the opportunity to apply that knowledge during their basketball season.


Each member of the IHSA Board volunteered for this position because they are passionate about high school sports and activities, and the positive impact they have on our students’ physical and mental health.”


Keep in mind, the IHSA needed to take this action today in order for winter sports activities to move ahead. Now we will wait to see what will happen in the next few weeks, as school districts around the state will be dealing with the ISBE in taking things to the next level...the actual playing of games and the start of the winter sports season.


Stay tuned!



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  • Writer's pictureDave McKenzie


Wednesday is a big day for high school winter sports teams around the state. It is then, that the IHSA will provide the latest update on the status of winter sports.

i thought it might be a good time to catch up with Carterville boys basketball coach Shane Hawkins.



High school basketball is slated to start on Monday, November 16th. The Lions are scheduled to begin play on December 1st when they travel to Meridian High School.


You can see the Lions 2020/21 basketball schedule here. For information on all Carterville Lions sports visit https://il.8to18.com/Cartervillelions/


Will there be high school basketball? If so, what will the season look like? Stayed tuned, we should have a better idea starting this Wednesday.


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  • Writer's pictureDave McKenzie

Updated: Nov 1, 2020





Thursday - Giants @ Eagles - 22-21 Eagles


Panthers at Saints ✅ 27-24 Saints

Bills at Jets ✅ 18-10 Bills

Browns at Bengals ❌ 37-34 Browns

Cowboys at Washington ✅ 25-4 Washing

Packers at Texans ✅ 35-20 Packers

Lions at Falcons ❌ 23-22 Lions

Steelers at Titans ❌ 27-24 Steelers

Buccaneers at Raiders ✅ 45-20 Buccaneers

Chiefs at Broncos✅ 43-16 Chiefs

Jaguars at Chargers ✅ 39-29 Chargers

49ers at Patriots ❌33-6 49ers

Seahawks at Cardinals ❌37-34 Cardinals

Bears at Rams ❌ 24-10 Rams


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About
  • Began his radio career in radio at WXAN (Ava, IL) in 1985

  • Has worked at several radio stations in the Southern Illinois area including, WDQN (DuQuoin, IL),  WQRL (Benton, IL), WDDD (Marion, IL).

  • Currently works for Max Media in Carterville, IL.  Dave has worked on each of the five station in that group including WOOZ (New Country Z100), WCIL-FM (Today's Hit Music 101.5CIL-FM), WUEZ (Magic 95.1), WJPF-WCIL-AM (NewsRadio WJPF), WXLT (103.5 ESPN).

  • On-Air Talent on New Country Z100 since 2004 and host/producer of the Saturday Morning Oldies Show.

  • Host of "Riding the Pine", on 103.5 ESPN, a weekly sports talk show covering the Southern Illinois Miners, Southern Illinois' minor league baseball team in Marion, IL.

  • Program Director for 1035 ESPN

  • Play-by-play announcer for Carterville High School sports including football and basketball on NewsRadio WJPF.

  • Fill-in host for the Morning Newswatch with Tom Miller, heard Monday-Friday on NewsRadio WJPF.

  • Emcee/host for Music & Motion Marching Band field competition held each October at Saluki Stadium hosted by the SIU School of Music (2011-2016).

  • Emcee/host for the Walk for a Cure for Arthritis held every May at the University Mall in Carbondale, IL.

  • Main stage Emcee for the first Bluegill Music Festival held July 4th, 2015 at the Rend Lake Dam.  Over 20 music acts performed throughout the day.

  • Herrinfesta Italiana stage host for various music acts

  • Commercial voice-over work

  • Live remote broadcasts at various businesses and events throughout Southern Illinois.

  • Event Coordinator for five station group

  • Experienced HR/Safety/Environmental Manager for manufacturing and transportation companies.

  • Public Address Announcer for the Southern Illinois Miners Minor League Baseball team (2016).

  • 2016 Illinois Broadcasters Association "Silver Dome Award" 2nd place for Best Sportscaster in Medium Market radio.

  • 2017 Illinois Broadcasters Associations "Silver Dome Award" 2nd place for "Best Radio Play-by-Play for Medium Market Stations".

  • 2017 Southern Illinois Miners On-Field Host

  • Two-time segment host of the "show that made country music famous", the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN (February 7, 2010 and May 6, 2017)

  • 2017/2018 Emcee - Barry Apple Festival Pageant (Barry, IL)

  • On-Field Host for the Southern Illinois Miners Minor Leagues Baseball team (2017-2021)

  • 2018 & 2019 Illinois Broadcasters Association Silver Dome Award Winner for Best Play-by-play in Illinois.

  • 2018/2019/2021/2022 PONY Baseball International Colt World Series Play-by-play

  • 2019 Play-by-play Broadcaster for National Pro Fastpitch TV (Canadian Wild of Southern Illinois)

  • 2022 - Play-by-play Broadcaster of John A. Logan College Men and Womens Basketball

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