Southlanders missing a lot of great hoops

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A hallmark of the recent McDipper Tournament: packed stands. Crowds, though, have been sparse at recent boys basketball games on Friday nights. | File photo

Updated: January 23, 2012 12:25AM

I have heard the same excuses over and over again as to why gymnasiums in the Southland aren’t filled to capacity during boys basketball games on Friday nights.

“There are too many other things to do on Friday night.”

“The Bulls are on TV.”

“I can’t get a ride to the game.”

“The tickets are too expensive.”

“I’ve got a great party to go to.”

“My parents won’t let me go to the game.”

“I can’t get a ride home from the game.”

“I can’t wear my hat in the gym.”

Uh, I threw in that last comment. Remember when you could wear an innocent-looking baseball cap while watching a basketball game at your favorite high school?

Remember?

Oh, for the good old days. Today, you can wear a cap and watch a high school game at the United Center or at the state finals in Peoria, but you can’t wear a cap at most area high school basketball games.

Why? The most frequent answer to this question is, “Gang members like to wear caps and send signals by the way they wear their hats.”

OK. But don’t gang members go to basketball games at the United Center and in Peoria?

Hey. I’m sorry to have wandered away from my main topic: attendance at high school boys basketball games.

Where are the big crowds of yesteryear? Today’s players are supposed to be faster, stronger, more spectacular and talented. So, why aren’t there more sellouts in the gyms?

Case in point was Friday’s Southland Athletic Conference battle between rivals Crete-Monee and Rich South in Richton Park.

Crete-Monee is one of the best teams in the Chicago area. Both teams have a big-time Division I recruit in Rich South’s Macari Brooks and Crete-Monee’s Jamee Crockett, both of whom are headed to DePaul University in the fall to play in the vaunted Big East Conference.

I tried to get to the game 30 minutes early because I was worried about not getting a good parking spot.

As it turned out, there was nothing to worry about. It was a decent-size crowd at Rich South, but nothing to write home about. It was far, far from an evening full house gathering we see at Rich South’s annual McDipper Tournament.

Brooks, Crockett and their pals came through for the devoted fans, putting on a show filled with dazzling dunks and 3-point bombs.

But every time I looked in the bleachers I was wondering where the majority of students from these two schools were hanging out.

After all, the kids couldn’t have been boycotting the game’s “steep” ticket prices.

Rich South students, with an ID, didn’t have to pay a dime. Crete-Monee students, with an ID, were charged $2.

I guess times are a lot tougher than President Obama is letting on.

To Rich South fans I say, “It’s free admission to your school’s home basketball game, featuring two of the top players in the Chicago area. If you weren’t there, I guess you just don’t have time in your busy schedule to support your high school basketball team.”

To Crete-Monee fans I say, “It’s a very short ride from your community to Rich South, and, by the way, your talented team has an impressive 17-3 record. Your Warriors, who host another area rival, Rich East, Friday night, need your support, now more than ever.”

Crete-Monee has a chance in the next month to make history on the court. The Warriors never have qualified for the state finals. This season can be different.

This season can be different for other teams, too, such as Thornton, Morgan Park, Hillcrest and Homewood-Flossmoor.

Students must understand that supporting your favorite team is part of the high school experience. Being part of a packed gym is a moment that’s hard to duplicate.

I know I’m not part of your fast-moving generation that totally understands the numerous electronic devices you juggle every day.

I’m just saying that while you’re listening to your iPod, texting and being part of fascinating discussions on Facebook and Twitter, you also can sit in your school’s gym and root, root, root for the home team.

Just don’t wear a cap.