They have their priorities.

Ten-year old Grace Bauling and her friend, Katie Cies, 11, were looking forward to seeing Grace's older sister, Kiley, playing in her first basketball game last week. Kiley plays for the A squad with Huntley Middle School's eighth grade girls' basketball team. The Lady Barbs were hosting Sycamore in the first game of the season for both schools.

However, before the girls could watch, there was something they had to do.

"We get homework done before the game starts," Grace's mother said.

Although it wasn't quite the same as the Bears-Packers, the game the girls saw was about as dramatic as it gets. Jenee Carlson sank a pair of free throws with just 40 seconds remaining to give Sycamore an exciting 20-19 win. Only a few moments earlier, DeKalb took their first lead of the game on a free throw by Tiara Roberts.

Both teams will play 14 conference games, followed by a post-season tournament, for about 18 games overall.

Tickets for the games are $1 for adults and 50 cents for students and senior citizens.
"It's the cheapest entertainment in town," one ticket taker said.

The other players on Sycamore's A team for coach Dennis Miller are: Krista Thornberg, Taylor Belinski, Abby Bartels, Megan Navejas, Bailey Gilbert, Monica Kramer, Rachel Thurwanger and Madi Russell.

Members of the DeKalb A team for coach Fred Quade are Kaitlin Allen, Kara Alvarez, Riley Bauling, Salina Cruz, Allegra Domel, Alexis Fowler, Kate Hickey, Jasmine Malloy, Edith Reynolds, Tiara Roberts, Maddie Rodgers, Haley Tadd, Emma Valerius, Katie Schneider and Melanie Yaeger.