Oak Forest-Tinley to double the fun

Oak Forest will be hosting its first girls/boys basketball doubleheader Friday when the Bengals play visiting Tinley Park.

The two schools had a twin-bill last season at Tinley Park.

"It was very well-attended (at Tinley Park). It was packed," Oak Forest athletic director Sue Bonner said. "We're doing ours a little different because we don't have a gym setup like Tinley Park has. We'll have the sophomore games (today) here back to back, and the varsity on Friday back to back. The freshmen will all play at Tinley Park (today)."

Boys-girls doubleheaders have been held occasionally in the Southland for several years, with the girls game preceding the boys game. At Oak Forest, the girls will take the court at 5:30 p.m., with the boys to follow at approximately 7 p.m.

"The concept is to give people the opportunity to watch both the boys and girls teams in one night at one venue," said Bonner, who coached the girls team at Oak Forest to 12 winning seasons between 1987-2001. "It's more or less a showcase for both teams."

A real switch would have been playing the boys game before the girls game.

"Actually, I was going to do it that way," Bonner said. "But we had a booster club situation that prevented it. And to be realistic, the much bigger crowd always comes out for the boys because the rivalry is so great with Tinley Park. I mean, we pack our gym with the girls also, but we only sit on one side of the gym for the girls.

"Somebody's got to play the early game. And do I think the boys are more important? No. Absolutely not. But other people out there think the boys are more important, because they tend to draw the bigger crowd."

The Bengals girls team struggled through the early part of the season, but has come on strong of late to close in on .500 at 8-10 (through Monday). Jenny Swanson had 18 points and Becky Bylina 11 in a 62-54 win over Oak Lawn on Jan. 8, and Katie Swanson scored 15 in a 42-38 victory over Evergreen Park on Jan. 10 at the United Center.

A 'classic' combination

The lineup of games at Monday's annual McDonald's Chicago Classic at Willowbrook High School will have a decidedly Southland flavor.

Hillcrest is scheduled to match up against Carmel, Ind., at 1 p.m.; Marist is to meet St. Charles North at 2:30 p.m.; and Marian Catholic has a showdown against Hinsdale Central at 4 p.m.

"For the girls, it's a showcase," Marist coach Mary Pat Connolly said. "It's important for our seniors. They know the gym will be filled with college coaches. Plus, we get a different look at a team we wouldn't normally get to play. So we're really looking forward to it. Jim O'Boye does a nice job with that tournament."

Marist will be facing a St. Charles North team that on Jan. 10 gave unbeaten Hinsdale Central a battle before losing 47-36.

"They're a solid team, very well-coached," Connolly said of St. Charles North. "Their 6-4 girl (Kelsey Smith) is very good. We're going to have to try to contain her somehow. And they've got some really quick guards. It'll be a real challenge."

Did you know ...

It was 20 years ago when Tinley Park made its only Class AA state finals appearance, qualifying for the Elite Eight under the guidance of 1988-89 Southtown Economist Coach of the Year Jay Lundy.

The Titans, led by Kathy Nolan, Lolita Gill and Keri Lorenzen, went 29-2. They defeated Mother McAuley 57-45 in the Shepard Supersectional before seeing their 28-game winning streak come to an end in the quarterfinals in a 52-49 loss to New Trier.

Tony Baranek can be reached at tbaranek@southtownstar.com or(708) 633-5947.