Boys Basketball

MAPLE PARK – Paige Kuefler’s three-run home run punctuated a four-run fifth inning that lifted the Kaneland softball team past Ottawa, 6-4, on Wednesday.

Jim Roberts is going to coach one more basketball game at Batavia High School, and he can't think of a more fitting swan song.

Kyle Nelson intends to spend his spring “trying to get that big boy Nelson body,” a nod to the bulk of older brothers and former St. Charles North athletes Chris and Peter.

The Geneva boys basketball team’s swing offense seldom is in a hurry, a system that Vikings senior Brendan Leahy thrived under this winter.

Marcel Neil’s days of school-hopping aren’t through just yet.

Kyle Nelson had the size and skills to be a terrific basketball player throughout his St. Charles North career.

FIRST TEAM Kendall Stephens, St. Charles East, Jr., G/F

After a season this sweet, St. Francis boys basketball coach Bob Ward is reluctant to embrace the offseason.

Why Coyle was selected: Coyle contributed 26 points and 12 rebounds to St. Francis’ Class 3A Glenbard South Sectional semifinal victory against Crane on March 6. On Friday, he had a team-high 16 points in a sectional final loss to Marshall.

Nick Fruendt shares an apartment TV with Northwestern men’s basketball teammates Davide Curletti and John Shurna, one that seemingly defaults to the ESPN branch of networks.

GLEN ELLYN – The third powerhouse opponent from the Chicago Public League finally succeeded in eliminating a plucky St. Francis boys basketball squad from postseason play, but it was far from easy.

SYCAMORE – Several Rockford East fans bristled when a Sycamore official commenced with some ceremonial net-cutting Friday night.

WHEATON – Faced with the nerve-racking proposition of standing up to some of the premier basketball teams the city of Chicago has to offer, the St. Francis boys basketball team has had the gumption to stick to its principles.

SYCAMORE – Wednesday night’s IHSA Class 3A Sycamore Sectional semifinal between Aurora Central Catholic and Johnsburg was hardly the most glamorous sectional matchup in the state, featuring two teams that had lost twice as many games as they’d won during the regular season.

SYCAMORE – Rockford East center Steven McNease missed the second of two free throws with six seconds left on Tuesday, reminding the big crowd at the IHSA Class 3A Sycamore Sectional semifinal that he is mortal.