Jan. 27--After lengthy debate and a proposed boycott of the Morgan Park-Simeon game, school officials, parents and coaches agreed to have the game played Thursday at Morgan Park.
But that caused another problem.
Morgan Park already had re-scheduled a Public League Red-South game for Thursday against Vocational. Back in December, Cavaliers coach Chris Pickett agreed to move the game because Morgan Park had taken a road trip to Detroit the previous day.
Props to Pickett, a distant cousin of Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin, for not make a big deal about the Morgan Park-Simeon game receiving priority from CPS.
Pickett agreed that the Morgan Park-Simeon game was bigger -- not because it was Morgan Park-Simeon -- but because the Red-South title could be on the line.
Pickett kept cool when Morgan Park said it did not want to take a forfeit as a result, and he confirmed on Tuesday that the Morgan Park-Vocational game will be played on Friday at Morgan Park.
Vocational (14-6) doesn't have the reputation of Morgan Park, Simeon or Bogan in the Red-South, but it's a good team.
Five of Vocational's six losses are to the three Red-South powers, and perhaps Morgan Park will be ripe for a letdown a day after playing Simeon.
Recent results do not suggest a Simeon victory over Morgan Park is coming, though the first game was close despite Simeon's trouble from the foul line.
Curie coach serving suspension: In other coaching news, Curie's Mike Oliver has been suspended two games by the Illinois High School Association following the Condors' forfeit loss in Michigan City during MLK Day weekend.
Oliver said the team did not return to the floor following a timeout because he felt the referees did not have control of the game and he feared a fight. Eyewitnesses have disputed that account.
Oliver served the first game of his suspension Saturday, and he will not be on the sideline for the No. 6 Condors' Red-Central clash with No. 4 Kenwood on Tuesday.
He is also on probation for one year and will have to complete a National Federation of State High School Associations sportsmanship course online, according to an IHSA spokesperson.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
