Basketball used to revolve around the tallest player on the court. That’s why they call them centers. No more. In the age of the 3-pointer, the true dominant center has practically vanished. With Shaquille O’Neal aging, Dwight Howard stands alone in the NBA. Greg Oden was the only dominant low-post force in college basketball since Tim Duncan graduated from Wake Forest in 1997, and he played only one year at Ohio State.
ROCKFORD — Auburn lost its chance to win its first NIC-10 girls basketball title with close losses to Boylan and Hononegah. Then it lost a little pride with a loss to Belvidere North earlier this week.
ROCKFORD — This was Michelle Girard’s night by rule: as one of only two Lutheran seniors, she made a rare start in the Crusaders’ biggest game of the season.
As Dakota ran a play early in the third quarter, Pecatonica coach Kevin Kunkel shouted a warning to his players from the bench. “Where’s Benning? Where’s Benning? Where’s Benning?” Kunkel reminded his defenders.