The Game That Could Have Been...But Was Not...#100

The Game That Just Not Was
(2/23/10)
Peoria Notre Dame @ Galesburg (Boy's Basketball)

Originally planned as the 100th broadcast, the unforseen circumstance that Marty Touchette of the Monmouth Review-Atlas spoke of late last week bore its ugly head.

Late in the week, the IHSA was informed of a scheduling snafu by Galesburg High School. The office was notified by Galesburg's Western Big 6 compatriot, Rock Island. The question regarding the Silver Streaks basketball schedule was something not too many looked at during the course of the season.

2009-10 marked the inaugural season of the Galesburg boy's King Tournament. A fellow Western Big 6 school, United Township (East Moline), was also partaking in this tournament. A notation on the tournament schedule revealed that Galesburg and UTHS would not meet in the tournament, but one of their conference games would be used as a tie-breaker, if needed. Since that conference game was now also under the heading of a tournament game, it opened up Galesburg to pick up an additional game (non-conference).

Here's the skinny on season basketball scheduling. Schools can schedule three tournaments, and play no more than 16 games in one season. If a 17th game is played, that school would no longer be eligible for another tournament, which in any case (after the three tournaments are played), would be the IHSA state series (Regionals, etc.).

The way the schedule, for Galesburg is layed out, Peoria Notre Dame would be the final non-conference opponent, since their final game (scheduled for 2/26), would be Moline in conference action (which must be played).

Was Galesburg within the rules by using the United Township conference game as a tournament game? Yes...and No! The Galesburg girl's basketball team does this very same thing with one of its tournaments. Alleman (Western Big 6 member) is also in one of the Silver Streaks girl's tournaments, and it has been agreed upon that one of their conference games be used as a tie-breaker. Teams in the Bloomington-Normal area also do this.

However, once the IHSA received word of this scheduling, they wanted to see proof. According to an article in the Moline Dispatch, there was no proof according to the UTHS Athletic Director (Mike Tracey). The contract did not stipulate this would also be a tournament game. The whole fiasco began on Friday (2/19), and it seemed clear that the Tuesday (2/23) game would be a no-go with Peoria Notre Dame.

As it played out, the game was cancelled midway through Monday, since there was no flyer on the contract that stated this game was to be counted as a tournament game. Sources reported that Galesburg coach Mike Reynolds and UTHS coach Marc Polite had a gentleman's agreement on it, but nothing signed.

The game that could have been the 100th broadcast was scrapped on a technicality. At least it makes for an interesting story, instead of a snow day! Fortunately, it would be just one more day to get the historic broadcast in.