HMS, CHMS basketball teams create excitement at Hinsdale Central doubleheader
By Chuck Fieldman cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com January 19, 2012 10:58AM
Clarendon Hills Middle School and Hinsdale Middle School mascots chat during a break of their basketball game. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 27, 2012 8:10AM
The boys basketball teams from Hinsdale Middle School and Clarendon Hills Middle School provided plenty of excitement Jan. 18 with a doubleheader at Hinsdale Central.
In the first game, pitting the two seventh-grade teams from the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 middle schools, HMS managed a 34-33 win in overtime.
Daniel Ahern led HMS with a game-high 17 points; Liam Lyman contributed a team-best 9 points for CHMS.
Drew Shepherd’s game-high 16 points helped lead HMS to a 36-30 victory over CHMS in the matchup of eighth-grade teams. Bryan Loebig scored 12 points for CHMS.
This was the first time the two schools played a doubleheader at Hinsdale Central. The event was organized by HMS coach/math teacher Scott Burtnette.
“I set this up because I saw the excitement at both schools when CHMS played HMS,” Burtnette said. “Usually, the seventh-grade plays at one place and eighth-grade at the other, and both gyms were always packed with students, which created a great atmosphere for basketball.”
Burtnette said he has taught at both of the District 181 middle schools and knew having a basketball doubleheader at Hinsdale Central was an idea that would go over well.
“I thought I could take that excitement and create an event that these kids would really remember,” he said. “The high school athletic department and custodial staff were gracious enough to let us use their gym, and with the help of many staff members, we were able to get the students excited about attending the game.”
The gym at Central was packed with teachers, parents, students and former students cheering on their teams.
“These basketball players won’t experience anything like this until, and if, they play varsity ball (in high school),” Burtnette said. “At the end of day, all of the students at the event seemed to have a great time, and the players hopefully had an experience that goes beyond wins and losses.”
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