200-some Illinois Superintendents penned a letter to Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health last week calling for them to work with the IHSA to come up with a plan to play basketball this winter.

Surrounding states successfully completed the high school fall sports season and IHSA officials took notice and in late October announced they would be proceeding with the basketball season, leaving it up to local school leaders. Monticello Athletic Director Dan Sheehan hopes this message resonates with state leadership.

100-percent positive there will be no winter sports season is where Sheehan is at currently and has been in recent weeks. He points out the continued lack of communication between IDPH, IHSA and Gov. Pritzker and doesn't see that changing.

According to Sheehan, the decision right now is on local school districts and while some have said they will participate in basketball, he notes this is basically a decision to go against public health directives and the Illinois State Board of Education, which could compromise revenue sources for some districts.