After many years, even decades of traveling outside the city for state playoffs, the boys and girls basketball teams will be bringing the state playoffs to Lane.

This year, Lane’s boys and girls basketball teams are happy to announce that they will be hosting a round of the state playoffs for the first time ever, here at Lane, according to Logalbo.

“This is a great opportunity for our school,” Mr. Logalbo, the athletic director, said.

Bridget Peterson, Div. 872, has been playing for the girls basketball team since her freshman year.

“Playing on our home court for state playoffs this year will be a huge convenience,” Peterson said. “It has been hard the last couple of years traveling to far off schools and then coming home late multiple days during the week.”

Most athletes share the common opinion that playing on home court boosts confidence for an upcoming game. Playing at other schools may be nerve-wracking, especially if they have a large crowd that is rooting against your team.

“I think that Lane and my team will definitely be looked at differently because hosting can be intimidating to other teams,” Peterson said.

Zach Krysztopik, Div. 878, has also been playing on the boys basketball team since his freshman year, and is currently a captain. Krysztopik is confident that this advantage will not only be beneficial for both teams, but also for the school as a whole.

“I think it will have a great influence on the school,” Krysztopik said. “State playoffs are a huge time for high school basketball with a ton of great games, so it’ll bring more attention to our school.”

According to Logalbo, as of now, the boys and girls basketball teams are the only teams confirmed to host state playoffs this year.

The recent renovations and new additions to the gyms have inspired him to request Lane to host the Regionals since the conditions of the hosting facilities are a factor in the final selection.

There has been word, according to our athletic department, that the baseball team might also be hosting a round of state playoffs this spring at Kerry Wood Cubs Field, Lane’s home field.

Along with that, Logalbo is working on getting the girls soccer team to host state playoffs at the Lane Stadium later this school year, but as of now, nothing has been confirmed.

He says it is much more difficult for sports that take place in the stadium or on the baseball field to host state playoffs. This is due to the fact that the facilities don’t belong to Lane and the decision is out of the school’s hands.

Regionals for the boys will begin the week of Feb. 19 and the opponents are to be determined by Friday, Feb. 16.