South Beloit Sets Out to Discover Season

By Chris Johnson, REPORTER

On Monday, Nov. 21, the basketball players at South Beloit High School prepared for their season opener. The venue was familiar. They opened at the Pecatonica Thanksgiving Turkey Tourney. With a new conference affiliation, South Beloit’s travels are generally much farther these days. They don’t get to Pecatonica as much as they used to. The Northeastern Athletic calls the Sobos one of its own now. That means games will have to be played against Elgin-Westminster Christian along with Aurora-Mooseheart and Chicago Luther North. Being closer to home is a good send-off to the season. The Pecatonica Thanksgiving Turkey Tourney began on Monday as South Beloit faced the host Indians in the 7:30 match. Details of that contest and others during the season-opening Invitational Tournament are not available at this time. The Herald Newspaper will follow the Sobos throughout the season with information available in upcoming editions. In the early game the Belvidere Bucs 2016-2017 Sophomore representatives faced the Warren Warriors.

Following the Monday night opener South Beloit prepared for a Tuesday, Nov. 22 match with Belvidere. They tipped-off following the completion of the night-two opener featuring North Boone and Warren. On night three of the tournament, the Sobos watched as Belvidere and North Boone battled in the 6 p.m. game, followed by the 7:30 clash between Pecatonica and Warren. With the Thanksgiving Holiday setting in on Thursday, Nov. 24, game play resumes on Monday, Nov. 28 as North Boone and South Beloit tip-off at 6 p.m. Pecatonica battles Belvidere in the 7:30 match. The 2016 Pecatonica Thanksgiving Turkey Tourney wraps up on Tuesday, Nov. 29 as the Sobos face Warren in the early match. At 7:30 p.m. the host, Indians take on the Vikings to close down the 2016 Holiday Tournament.

A schedule alternating between conference matches and non-conference opponents waits for South Beloit as they close down December. On Dec. 6 the Sobos play at Rockford Christian Life. Two days later they are at Faith Lutheran in Crystal Lake. On Dec. 13 the small-school swing runs through Keith Country Day before a Stateline assault on the Clinton Cougars in Walworth County on Dec. 17. 2016 closes with a scheduled acceptance of an invitation to play in the Eastland Holiday Tournament beginning Dec. 26. Playing in the Northeastern Athletic Conference for football saw the Sobos nearly advance to the State Playoffs. They closed down just a game shy of consideration. The conference alignment is now with more eastern and north-centrally located programs in basketball could see South Beloit’s travel-times increase. However, trips to East Dubuque, Galena and West Carroll were no simple matter either. It isn’t known what type of a plan will work best for the South Beloit Sobos as they start the new winter season, but it is thought they will get a good idea of self-identity before the New Year holiday steps through during its annual visit.