By FRED KRONER
Even before the girls’ basketball game started on Saturday (Jan. 30), players from Tuscola and Villa Grove/Heritage knew they were participating in a victory.
They were playing in an IHSA-sponsored game, wearing their uniforms and representing their respective high school programs. It was the first time in 11 months that either team had played a game.
Sports throughout the state were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic in March, 2020 and with the exception of four fall individual sports, COVID-19 had kept the high schoolers inactive athletically.
The scoreboard showed that Tuscola defeated the visiting Blue Devils 43-40 in the Saturday non-conference contest.
That wasn’t the primary takeaway for anyone associated with either program.
“It was fun to see the kids be so excited and get the opportunity,” VG/Heritage coach Dan Sappenfield said. “It was like, ‘Wow, we’re getting to do this.’
“It was fun to be back on the court.”
Though his players were frustrated that they were unable to hold onto a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, Sappenfield helped them put it in perspective in his post-game talk.
“They were upset they didn’t take care of business,” he said, “but I said to remember they were disappointed in a lot different way two weeks ago (when a season didn’t seem likely.)”
The Blue Devils committed 26 turnovers, but eight came in the final quarter, when Tuscola nailed five free throws and two three-pointers to rally for the victory.
“Our young kids were not ready for that kind of pressure,” Sappenfield said.
Villa Grove/Heritage’s Kyleigh Block scored 13 of her game-high 17 points in the first half. She was the only Blue Devil to attempt a free throw and she sunk 5 of 9 shots from the line.
Madie Burwell seconded Block with a 14-point performance. Block hit two of the three three-pointers that VG/Heritage made.
Kaylee Arbuckle scored four points, Vanessa Wright had three points and Maci Clodfelder added two points. Wright also made a three-pointer for the Blue Devils.
Players have been practicing with masks on and Sappenfield said he didn’t see that requirement as having a major impact.
“It was very difficult at first,” he said, “but as the game went on, they adjusted to it.
“It didn’t affect the kids’ spirit.”
Sappenfield said the host school split the ticket allotment equally.
“There were 25 (spectator) tickets for Tuscola and 25 for us,” Sappenfield said.
He didn’t have issues distributing his allotment. VG/Heritage had 12 healthy players for Saturday’s opener.
“Everyone got two tickets,” he said.
The spectator limit didn’t seem too noticeable, Sappenfield said.
“Other than no student body, I didn’t see much difference (from years past),” he said. “It had an impact, but not that big of an impact.”
VG/Heritage and Tuscola were tied after one quarter, 9-9. VG/Heritage held slender leads at halftime (24-21) and after three quarters (30-28).
Before departing for Tuscola, VG/Heritage had steps to follow prior to leaving the school.
“The biggest thing is we do a pre-certification where we take temperatures before we get on the bus,” Sappenfield said.
The data is logged and, the coach added, “we hand a sheet to the administrator when we get there.”
Villa Grove/Heritage won’t have to wait long to return to action. The Blue Devils will travel to Sullivan Monday (Feb. 1) for another non-conference game.
Normally, Sappenfield said he would like practice time between games to work on mistakes that were made in the previous outing. This year, he is fine with the quick turnaround.
“It’s better to schedule as many games as you can as early as you can,” he said, “because you don’t know how many you’ll get.
“This year is about getting the opportunity to play. We’re glad to be back on the court.”
