State Farm Classic opponents named for both state-ranked SJO basketball squads

Earlier today, organizers for the annual State Farm Holiday Classic have released the brackets for this year's tournament. The 42nd installment, which includes both the St. Joseph-Ogden girls and boys teams, will be played on four days starting December 27 and ending on December 30 this year. The 64-team event will be hosted at four different venues in Bloomington-Normal.

Ella Armstrong goes up for a second half shot around Centennial's Avery Loschen last month. Armstrong and the Spartans will open their State Farm Holiday Classic title run against Normal U-High on December 27.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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The currently undefeated St. Joseph-Ogden boys basketball team is the #2 seed. The Spartans open tournament play at 10:30a against #15-seeded Vikings from Tri-Valley. The small school boys game will be played at Normal West High School.

SJO will face the winner (or loser) of the following scheduled game between Quincy Notre Dame and Rock Falls. Sacred Heart-Griffin earned the nod for the #1 seed.

There are six state-ranked teams included in the small school division field of competition. Along with SJO at #10 in Class 2A, there is #4 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (2A), #9 Aurora Christian (1A), #19 Rockford Lutheran (2A), #22 East Dubuque (1A), and El Paso-Gridley at #24 in Class 2A.

First-year head coach Drew Arteaga and the Spartan girls' program will tip-off against Normal University High School. Backed by a strong senior class and deep bench, SJO earned a #4 seed in this year's tournament. The team will face the winner (or loser) between the next game at Normal Community between Annawan and Rockford Lutheran in the quarterfinals.

With the Class 2A state-ranked at #14, the SJO girls' team will play 1:30p on Day 1. Spartan fans will be able to comfortably catch both opening-round games on Monday.

Other state-ranked teams in the small school girls bracket include two #1 teams, Brimfield in 1A and Winnebago ranked as the top team in the state in Class 2A. #3-ranked Paris in 2A.

Let the music play

Eric Lund's Jazz Quintet performs the jazz standard Since I Fell For You at the Rose Bowl on Friday night. The band performs every other Friday at the downtown Urbana establishment and features Eric Lund on trombone, Jeff Helgesen on trumpet, George Turner on jazz guitar, Emma Taylor on bass and Ricardo Flores on drums. See Saturday night's line-up here ...

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Guest Commentary:Grief at the holidays: It’s OK to not feel OK

The holidays are often seen as times of cheer, but for people grieving losses, they may be filled with dread. With the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and a flood of distressing headlines, this year may be especially difficult for many among us.

Grief can come in many forms. There may be loss of loved ones, disrupted routines, frayed relationships, job loss, fear of life never returning to 'normal," and worries about the future. These can lead to people losing a sense of self, security, and shelter.

"In this time of celebration, hope, and goodwill, there is an expectation that everybody is happy, but it’s easy to forget that it is a sad time for many people," said Rosecrance Director of Chaplaincy Christopher Druce Jones. "For those of us who are not experiencing grief, we need to be more aware of how we can honor the people who are struggling and forgotten during the season. For those who are grieving, it takes work to recognize the holidays for what they are while realizing they aren’t the same."

To work through grief at the holidays, Iliff says it is important to be honest with yourself about the feelings, and accept that special days may feel different for a while. When you are ready, reach out to a caring friend to talk about your emotional state.

In addition, be aware of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state. Self-care will be important through these times, so make sure to eat properly, get enough sleep, exercise, and engage in spiritual grounding practices. When you attend holiday gatherings, give yourself permission to leave early if something triggers emotions, or you need a little extra time afterward for self-care.

Last, find ways to connect with others throughout the season. This fellowship will help overcome the dangers of isolation that can pop up at this time of year. Grief counseling and support groups are excellent resources for people who want to work through the grieving process in a supportive environment. Counseling helps address the losses, while groups are good for navigating the journey through those uncomfortable "firsts" without a loved one. For people in recovery, 12 Step groups and the Rosecrance Central Illinois Alumni program have extra opportunities for in-person and virtual connection.

"Sometimes, the best we can do is muddle through it and look forward to a brighter 2022, but that is perfectly fine," Druce Jones said. "If we manage today with the help of a few close friends, we can be assured that hope and joy will one day return."

Matt Hawkins
Rosecrance Health Network