BNC announces no conference slate as Genoa-Kingston postpones season

On the heels of the Big Northern Conference announcing it won't hold a conference schedule in boys and girls basketball, Genoa-Kingston athletic director Phil Jerbi said the school is postponing its season.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has made basketball a high-risk sport, meaning under current guidelines it cannot be played. The IHSA, however, said it is planning on holding a state series for basketball during the winter season.

That has left individual districts to make their own decisions. And Jerbi said G-K will put its season on hold.

"After discussions with principals and ADs around the BNC and per the guidance of both our legal counsel and insurance providers, we will adhere to the guidance of ISBE and the IDPH," Jerbi said. "If we receive updated information from either of those two, we would obviously re-evaluate our current position."

The IHSA winter season starts Nov. 16 with practices, and Jerbi said the school will go forward with its Cheerleading and Dance seasons.

The statement from the conference on Friday said it will be a local decision made by the 11 member schools of the conference, which includes Genoa-Kingston.

"The Big Northern Conference has elected not to play a conference boys or girls basketball schedule at this time," the statement said. "The decision to hold basketball or not during the 2020-21 school year will be a local school/district decision made by each of its 11 member schools."

Jerbi equated the situation to the one the district is going through right now. Classes have been fully remote for almost two weeks, with a play to return to the hybrid model on Monday.

"Just because we're planning to return to the hybrid model on Monday doesn't mean it can't change at a moment's notice," Jerbi said. "It's the same for athletics. We plan on moving forward with dance and cheer a week from Monday as they've been designated low risk with new modifications in place."