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The original March Madness is upon us—high school basketball in Illinois takes center stage this weekend, as the 3A and 4A championships will be decided at Peoria’s Carver Arena. Can Whitney Young win back-to-back 4A titles? How will Belleville West phenom E.J. Liddell perform on the state’s biggest stage? And in 3A, can Morgan Park win their fourth title in six years? Joe Collins and preps reporter Scott Phillips debate those topics, and they also discuss who the Player of the Year candidates are in Illinois. They’ll also expand on what they learned in a very topsy-turvy basketball season.

Chicago Public League or Catholic League? North Suburban or South Suburban? Does the West Suburban Silver or Gold enter the fray? Joe Collins and Scott Phillips dive into a polarizing topic: which Chicagoland high school boys basketball conference is the best? Does it only matter about the current season’s wins and losses or is it more about consistency and the overall legacy of the conference? How does a league’s star power play into the equation? For help on the topic, we reached out to Oak Park-River Forest head coach Matt Maloney. His Huskies are currently ranked No. 7 in our Preps Power Rankings. They’re also in the thick of a very competitive West Suburban Silver conference race.

It was pretty clear who got the best presents this holiday season—Conant, St. Rita, Orr, Morgan Park were among the flurry of holiday basketball tournament winners. They received shiny new first place trophies for their hallway case. But for others, especially Mount Carmel’s head football coach Frank Lenti, the news wasn’t as good. The 11-time state champion coach was relieved of his duties last week. Was Coach Lenti treated fairly by Mount Carmel? Can Jordan Lynch take the Caravan back to state? Joe Collins and Scott Phillips answer that question with “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran. The panel also catches up with Conant head basketball coach Jim Maley, whose Cougars were victorious at York’s Jack Tosh Holiday Classic in large part due to talented big man Ryan Davis.

The Pontiac Holiday Tournament field is loaded with talent every year; however, this year may have the best lineup, top to bottom, seen in quite some time. Top-ranked Simeon, West Aurora, Bloom, Bloomington, Curie and several other teams will be competing for the prestigious title. One of the teams that will undoubtedly be in the mix is Benet. The Redwings, currently ranked #20 in our Preps Power Rankings, drew Peoria Manual in the opening road. Benet head coach Gene Heidkamp breaks down the field and his team’s chance this year. He also reflects on Benet legend Frank Kaminsky, now with the Charlotte Hornets, who came back to Lisle for his jersey retirement ceremony. The panel also discusses the best tournaments across the state and the upcoming episode of High School Lites.

From his playing days at Gordon Tech and DePaul University-- and now as a coach at DePaul Prep, Tom Kleinschmidt has become a legend on the local basketball scene. His Rams were a force to be reckoned with in 1990, as he led Gordon Tech to the state championship game. Now, as a coach at his newly-renamed alma mater, he plans on taking the Rams to the same lofty heights. We catch up about the past, present and future of his mark on the Chicago basketball landscape. The panel also discuss the new @NBCSPreps Power Rankings, as several new teams are in the mix. They also break down the next High School Lites episode, which features several pivotal early-season conference games.

What is the best high school basketball rivalry in the state? Simeon head coach Robert Smith shares his thoughts on the topic. Oh, did we mention that Simeon and Morgan Park play each other this week? Joe Collins and Scott Phillips talk about why this matchup is so meaningful on the prep basketball scene. The panel also discuss the @NBCSPreps Power Rankings, as several new teams are in the mix. They also break down the next High School Lites episode, which features several high-caliber rivalry games.

Can Whitney Young repeat as 4A state champs? Or Morgan Park in 3A? Can the same be said for Orr in 2A? Joe Collins and preps basketball contributor Scott Phillips discuss this and set the table on the high school basketball season. And speaking of the Whitney Young Dolphins, head coach Tyrone Slaughter joins the discussion, reflecting on his team’s 6-0 start. He also previews the Dolphins’ involvement in the upcoming Chicago Elite Classic at the UIC Pavilion, where they will face Vashon High School from St. Louis, MO. 

Can Prairie Ridge repeat as state champions? Will Rochester and IC Catholic Prep do the same? It’s championship weekend at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb for IHSA football. Joe Collins and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran wrap up the 2017 prep season and discuss the games on NIU’s campus this weekend. Could some contests go down to the last play? A lot of playoffs games have done just that in recent memory. And referees are the ones who keep a continuous rundown of checks of balances as plays/game flow escalate. We are joined by Steve Garbaciak, a 25-year veteran of the IHSA. As President of the Joliet Football Officials and member of the IHSA’s official advisory committee, Steve chronicles how the game has changed in the last quarter century, and he details how to maintain judicial balance in games of critical importance. 

What will “Lincoln-Way East vs. Maine South, Part III” be like? We’re about to find out. On September 1, Lincoln-Way South made a statement in a revenge game (of sorts) in a 28-26 victory in Park Ridge. The win erased the sting of a loss on their home field the previous season to those same Hawks. Fans will be treated to the third such battle in a year. Joe Collins and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran will catch up with special guest Maine South head coach Dave Inserra about Saturday. The panel will also break down the rest of the IHSA semifinal slate and go into specifics on some controversial calls the previous weekend.

Around this time of year, radio stations start to play, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” The song spreads holiday cheer, but the song title alone lends itself to the high school football landscape in November. The road to a state championship could easily be the most wonderful time of year for high school football fans, but attendance numbers say otherwise. How to fix this issue? Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran offer their solutions. The panel also dives in to preview the IHSA quarterfinals and reflect on some of the insane, last-second comebacks in the second round—highlighted by Prairie Ridge’s Samson Evans scoring a 66-yard touchdown with seven seconds remaining to lead the Wolves to victory.

Should the IHSA keep its 256-team football playoff field? Or should it be doubled, guaranteeing (virtually) all Illinois high schools a postseason berth? This playoff realignment, where teams play eight regular season games instead of nine, is part of a proposal that has been sent to the IHSA. Expanded discussions on the topic by the IHSA Legislative Commission take place later this month. Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran weigh each side of the debate. They also open the podcast reflecting on the dramatic opening round wins and then look ahead to second round action. Which teams will move one step closer to DeKalb and a state championship?

Which games have the biggest upset potential? Who has the toughest path out of the early rounds of the playoffs? Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran break down the opening round of the IHSA football playoffs. And they have some help: coaching legend Terry McCombs joins the group for some analysis. McCombs, now in his 48th year of high school football coaching, leads his Minooka Indians into play Friday night against Notre Dame. He gives his synopsis on the matchup, the 8A bracket and relays his favorite advice and memories from nearly five decades of coaching.

Which teams are on the right side of the IHSA playoff bubble? What seems to be the magic number for playoff points? Shaw Media’s Steve Soucie, our resident bracketologist, puts the IHSA football playoffs in perspective. He is joined by hosts Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran. For some teams, a win puts them in the playoffs. For others, it’s win…and hope that a few other teams across the state help shape the standings in their favor. All this, plus a look at the Week Nine High School Lites rundown and much more.

October is the most fascinating month on the sports calendar-- all of the major sports overlap in some capacity. Illinois’ high school football schedule peaks in its own way around the middle of the month: pairing show night. Joe Collins, Jared Storck, “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran and IHSA broadcaster Dave Bernhard reflect on why this time of year is so special on the high school football landscape. Also, the panel explores key storylines in each of the classes and predict possible matchups. All this, plus a look at the Week Eight rundown and much more.

The Chicago Public League has initiated a flag football league, due in large part to 12 schools dropping traditional football from their athletic programs. Is this the answer for low football participation numbers? Is it the beginning of a larger trend across the city/state? “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran and High School Lites producers Joe Collins and Jared Storck debate the topic. The panel also welcomes Daily Herald writer Kevin Schmit, who discusses the past, present and future of the DuPage Valley conference. All this, plus Week Seven predictions and much more.

Peoria High School scored 94 points –in football—against Bloomington on Friday. They are averaging close to 70 points on the season. Will they score 100 points in a game this year? Can the Lions repeat as 5A state champs? Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran catch up with their head coach, Tim Thornton. Also: Niles North (hazing) and Whitney Young (low participation numbers) have suspended their football programs for the rest of the season. How does this impact the future of these programs? The panel discusses this topic and sets up Week 6 on the High School Lites calendar.

Excellent teams. Tradition. Locality. Fan base animosity. They’re the cornerstones of what make a great high school football rivalry. In this edition of CSN Chicago’s High School Lites podcast, Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran dive into this topic and discuss which ones stand out above the rest in Illinois. The panel also break down the newly-released IHSA playoff outlook and discuss the early candidates for offensive player of the year. They’ll also look ahead to Friday’s matchups, which feature several teams jostling for playoff position.

In this edition of CSN Chicago’s High School Lites podcast, Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran catch up with East Aurora head coach (and former Super Bowl XX Champion Chicago Bears guard) Kurt Becker. Discussion points include the new state-of-the-art playing field at the school and how it could serve as a building block for the Tomcat program. Also: Kurt describes how an NFL background has helped bridge the gap between football and parents who are questioning if their sons should play the game. Joe, Jared and “Edgy” also break down Week 4 IHSA action and reflect on sub-.500 teams who could turn their season around and make the playoffs.

In this edition of CSN Chicago’s High School Lites podcast: Homewood-Flossmoor went road tripping last week --777 miles to be exact—from Chicago’s southern suburbs to Durham, North Carolina. We catch up with Vikings head coach Craig Buzea on how the team pulled off the trip…and got a win to boot. “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran and High School Lites producer Jared Storck joined Joe Collins to preview Week Three on the IHSA calendar and examine the biggest surprises thus far on the 2017 season. Scott Phillips also joins the panel to break down some key basketball verbal commitments in the previous week and look ahead to the recruiting landscape and key expectations in the 2017-18 basketball season.

In this edition of CSN Chicago’s High School Lites podcast: is it a matter of parity…or parody? Is it a changing of the guard among the prep football elite or is it simple a matter of heart, hustle and muscle? There were quite a few upsets –and eye-opening scores—in Week One IHSA football action. One of those head-turning games was Phillips’ huge win over Loyola at Gately Stadium. Wildcats head coach Troy McCallister checks in on the podcast with Joe Collins, Jared Storck and “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran. The guys also tee up the upcoming matchups on Friday’s High School Lites.