Area Roundup: Jan. 14
FROM STAFF REPORTS January 14, 2013 5:30PM
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Cardinals ranked No. 5 — North Central is ranked No. 5 among NCAA Division III programs in this week’s Top 25 Poll released by D3hoops.com.
The Cardinals were ranked No. 1 in the poll for the previous two weeks before suffering their first loss of the season, 64-53, at Carthage College on Wednesday. North Central bounced back to defeat No. 17 Augustana, 59-46, at home on Saturday.
North Central now stands at 14-1 on the season and 3-1 in CCIW play. North Central hosts Millikin (7-8, 3-1 CCIW) on Wednesday, with tipoff at 7:30 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Central water polo coach honored — Jeff Plackett, girls water polo coach at Naperville Central, has been named 2012 Coach of the Year at the state level in the sport by the NFHS Coaches Association. The NFHS Coaches Association is the official national coaches association of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Plackett guided the Redhawks to a second-place finish in the state finals behind Fenwick this past season.
Waubonsie team earns gold — The Waubonsie Valley Special Olympics basketball team earned a gold medal in its division at the area tournament on Sunday. With the first-place finish, the team qualifies for the state competition in March. Getting in the scoring column for Waubonsie on Sunday were Tommy Welsh, Zinyra Ross, Ryan McDonough and Nick Rudny. Playing solid defense were Ben Barcena, Jeffrey Bender, Connor Knapp and Ivan Velazquez. The Warriors are coached by Sarah Kemerly.
Baseball coaches clinic — Former Major League manager Tony LaRussa will be the featured speaker during the two-day Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Clinic and Hall of Fame Dinner to be held at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. The clinic will be held Jan. 25 and Jan. 26. LaRussa will speak on the second day at 1 p.m. Coaches may register at www.ihigh.com/ihsbca/ .
