BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL
JAMAICA — It’s been a long time coming for fans — student and adult alike — of the Salt Fork Storm boys’ basketball team.
The high school team is set to step on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena today for the first game of the IHSA class 1A State Tournament semifinals. They are the first Vermilion County high school basketball team to make it to the semifinals since the Danville Vikings did it in 1993.
Hectic is the word Jamaica High School Athletic Director Chris Hodge used to describe recent days at the school. Ticket sales started on Wednesday at Jamaica and Catlin high schools and Hodge said there were plenty of buyers.
“Fans are very supportive and travel to see our teams,” he said, adding the Salt Fork Storm will be “well represented” in the stands today.
He said Thursday morning that a lot of student tickets had been sold so far.
Fan buses have been organized from Jamaica and Catlin schools to see the game today, slated for tip off at 12:15 p.m. The boys’ team will take on Lanark Eastland.
Fred Rinehart of Catlin is a former teacher in the school district. He said today’s basketball game is the talk of the town in Catlin.
“Everybody’s very excited,” he said. “Every time I go somewhere, somebody is talking about it.”
For Jamaica High School, it’s been more than a decade since one of its basketball teams have pushed deep into the tournament. In the mid ’90s, the girls’ team made it to the Elite Eight.
Dawn Eakle, still a teacher at Jamaica, coached that team. She said its “huge” for the players to have a big cheering section at the tournament.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have a great following,” she said.
“I’ve seen the following with the students,” Eakle said. “It’s grown with every game they’ve won.”
As a coach, Eakle admitted it’s hard with the attention and excitement to keep the players focused. But, down the road, she says it is all worth it.
“We still have girls that call and say that was one the best experiences of their life,” she said.
If the Salt Fork Storm boys’ team wins today, they will move on to the final game Saturday, which is slated to tip off at 2 p.m. The third place game is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Saturday.
