For its first 44 years, the Girls Intercity Basketball Tournament was a traveling show, bouncing from one high school to another throughout Bloomington-Normal.
It was a journey of frantic finishes, blowout wins, buzzer-beaters and dominant performances … a bit of everything, really.
Except this: a place to call home.
That changes this week when the girls and boys Intercity tournaments become one at Illinois Wesleyan’s Shirk Center, longtime site of the boys event. The State Farm Boys and Girls Intercity Tournament begins Saturday and runs through Dec. 2.
The girls tournament has found a coveted home. The first-rate college facility and energized atmosphere historically enjoyed by the boys is now theirs as well.
“We’ve been hoping for this for a while, to get the girls the opportunity to play on a college court and at Wesleyan,” Central Catholic girls coach Debbie Coffman said. “I’m really glad that the athletic directors and principals made it happen this year.”
The move, bolstered by State Farm’s sponsorship, brings equity to the boys and girls tournaments. That means a lot to Coffman, who is in her 27th year as the Saints’ head coach, and Laura Sellers, 19th-year head coach at University High.
“I mean, I’m a girls basketball coach and I’m a female, so absolutely. It’s about time, right?” Sellers said. “I’ve coached girls for a long time and girls should be entitled to have the exact opportunities as the boys.
“So I said (to her players), ‘You are a special group because this is the first time this is happening. You can always say you were part of the first Intercity Tournament held at Shirk Center on the girls side.’ ”
The tournament opens with two girls games Saturday, followed by two boys games Nov. 25 and two girls games Nov. 26, with 6:30 and 8 start times each night.
There will be four games (two girls, two boys) on Nov. 27, 29 and 30 at 2:30, 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m. The tourney concludes with boys games at 6:30 and 8 on Dec. 2.
Player reaction
Normal Community’s girls experienced playing at Shirk Center in last year’s State Farm Holiday Classic. Senior forward Marco Reynolds is eager to get back on Dennie Bridges Court to open this season.
“I was surprised when I heard about it, but a lot of excitement came to me when I heard about it,” said the 6-foot-1 Reynolds, an Eastern Illinois track recruit. “Knowing that we have another chance to play at Illinois Wesleyan and it’s combined with the boys, it will be fun.”
NCHS faces Normal West at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the tournament’s first game. Normal Community senior forward Tatum Yokley can’t wait.
“It’s a lot more exciting at Shirk because there are a lot more eyes on the game,” Yokley said. “The last Intercity Tournament we had so many people (in the stands) without the boys. I feel like it’s going to be so packed and so exciting.
“A lot of people compliment our program and our sportsmanship and they love our energy. I think this year it will be even better.”
Yokley’s head coach, Dave Feeney, called the combined tournament “great for women’s basketball and great for basketball in general.”
He especially likes the tournament format.
“There are a few games throughout where the same matchups are occurring,” Feeney said. “So say, when we’re playing U High, it’s followed by our boys playing U High. I think that’s a pretty cool thing for both schools.”
“We’re hoping that we’ll draw some fans that we don’t typically,” Feeney added. “The neutral site is good and I think playing at the Shirk is always special for everybody.”
Few will appreciate it more than Central Catholic senior Logan Shanks. The fourth of the talented Shanks sisters to play for the Saints, she has been to Shirk Center often.
This time will be different.
“My oldest sister, Sydney, played basketball there (for Illinois Wesleyan),” she said. “Having her play there is just cool because now I’m going to be playing on the same court as her.”
Schedule changes
The new format has pushed back the start of the girls Intercity to Saturday from its traditional Monday. Central Catholic and Normal West found opponents to play Tuesday to get a game prior to the tournament.
Feeney and Sellers opted for practice time instead.
“I think it gives multisport athletes a chance to finish their seasons and not be so rushed to get into the next season,” Sellers said.
An example? NCHS senior guard Kenna Malinowski competed in the State Swim Meet over the weekend for the fourth year in a row.
“We were kind of excited that, ‘Hey, for the first time Kenna is going to get to practice before we play,’ ” Feeney said. “I think there’s some good in having a little more time to prepare and hopefully get kids acclimated.”
Feeney and Coffman typically have given players time off during the Thanksgiving break. This year, they will be playing during Thanksgiving week.
That is a small price in exchange for the positives, Coffman said.
“A lot of good things are going to come from it,” she said. “The boys Intercity games are always pretty full with people coming home for the holiday. This gives an opportunity for some of our alumni to see us play as well. It’s an opportunity for people to see the girls play and maybe to get more people to come out throughout the regular season.”
Central Catholic senior guard Meg Uhren has experienced the atmosphere from the stands. Now, it’s her turn to be on the court.
“I’m really excited because the girls haven’t gotten that in the past,” Uhren said. “I feel like there will be a lot more energy.
“Since I was younger, my dad and my older sister have gone there a lot (to the boys Intercity). I loved it. It’s really loud in the gym. I like the lighting. I like how the court is down below. I loved it.”
