Unity basketball tips off tonight

Unity's Blake Kimball dribbles the ball down the floor during first half action in last year's home game against St. Joseph-Ogden. The Rockets will host the Spartans on February 19.

Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks

The Unity varsity boys basketball team open their 2021 season on the road tonight at Maroa-Forsyth.

Under normal circumstances due to the COVID-19 state health department protocols, spectator capacity is limited to just 25 spectators for the away team. However, Rocket fans can catch tonight's game on the NFHS network from the comfort of their home at 7pm. The junior varsity contest at 5:30pm will also be streamed.

The cost to watch NFHS Network streaming events start a monthly subscription cost of $10.99 per month. Fans can save almost half of the year fee by purchasing an annual subscription at $69.99. The NFHS will donate a portion of the annual subscription fee to the school you select when you sign up. Schedule and times for all Unity high school and middle school basketball games can be found here.

The Rockets will host seven opponents on their 13-game schedule this season. Here is the current schedule for the 2021.

2021 Unity Boys Basketball Schedule

02/02/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Maroa Forsyth High School
02/05/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Paris High School
02/09/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     vs. IVC High School
02/12/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Pontiac High School
02/16/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Prairie Central High School
02/19/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. St. Joseph-Ogden High School
02/20/2021     Sat • 3:30 PM     @ PBL High School
02/23/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Olympia High School
02/26/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Monticello High School
03/02/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ St. Thomas More High School
03/05/2021     Fri • 7:00 PM     vs. Rantoul High School
03/06/2021     Sat • 4:30 PM     vs. Tuscola High School
03/09/2021     Tue • 7:00 PM     @ Central Catholic High School

Breaking | First two SJO boys basketball games canceled

Per an email message yesterday afternoon from St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Director Justin Franzen, the first two boys basketball games of the season have been canceled.

The Spartans, both JV and varsity squads, were scheduled to open the 2021 season against former Sangamon Valley Conference foe Cissna Park High School in the Main Gym on Friday. Four days later, SJO planned to host St. Thomas More for their first Illini Prairie Conference contest this year.

Franzen indicated that both games were canceled due to required COVID-19 quarantine and mitigation measures.

The girls' JV and varsity home openers are still scheduled to be played at this time.

Facing limit fan capacity for home games this season, the SJO Fan Club purchased video cameras for both the main gym and outdoor sports facilities so that all home Spartan athletic events will be streamed live via the NFHS Network at a subscription cost of $10.99 per month. Fans can save almost half of the year fee by purchasing an annual subscription at $69.99.

All Spartan basketball, volleyball, and wrestling meets will be broadcasted on the network. Bookmark this page to enjoy watching SJO sports online until public health mandated spectator limitations are lifted.