Pat Disabato – Page 24

St. Laurence coach Jim Sexton, who recently resigned after three seasons guiding the program. eyes the clock in a game against St. Francis de Sales on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.

Jim Sexton cites facilities as main reason for stepping down as St. Laurence’s boys basketball coach: ‘It just became too much for me.’

March 19, 2020 at 11:32 a.m.

Jim Sexton knew something had to give. His job in sales and responsibility to his family demanded time at certain points of the day. And with St. Laurence having only...

Thornton's DaMarco Minor tries to make a play against Homewood-Flossmoor during a game in Harvey on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.

Disabato: Thornton’s boys basketball team brought a community together in Harvey, where ‘everyone wanted to see us put on a show’

March 18, 2020 at 11:25 a.m.

DaMarco Minor would gaze around Thornton's gorgeous gymnasium during games and marvel at the crowd. Black and white. Young and old. Men and women. He even noted a few gang...

Marian Catholic's Ahron Ulis (1) goes up for the shot against Brother Rice during a game in Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.

Marian Catholic, Morgan Park and Thornton see dream seasons come to an end due to coronavirus: ‘We’ll never get closure. It’s sad.’

March 13, 2020 at 4:45 p.m.

Tai Streets won a state championship in track and earned all-state honors as a wide receiver in football at Thornton. Those individual achievements remain near and dear to Streets. He...

Brother Rice's Ryan Kutt pumps his fist after a strikeout to end the game against Mount Carmel in 2016.

Disabato: Brother Rice graduate Ryan Kutt returns to the mound for Illinois after Tommy John surgery, only to be shut down by the NCAA’s cancellation of the spring season

March 13, 2020 at 3:16 p.m.

Slowly but surely, Illinois pitcher Ryan Kutt was beginning to resemble his old self. His fastball was consistently reaching 90 mph. His wipeout slider was regaining its nasty bite. With...

St. Joseph High School plays Rockford Lutheran High School in the Class 3A semifinals at Carver Arena on March 20, 2015, in Peoria. The Illinois High School Association canceled the boys state basketball tournament due to concerns about the coronavirus.

Impact of coronavirus concerns forces IHSA to cancel state basketball tournament, other high school events

March 12, 2020 at 11:00 p.m.

The Illinois High School Association, hours after pledging to continue with the boys state basketball tournament despite a cascade of coronavirus-related cancellations, pulled the plug on the event Thursday night....

Thornton's Sean Burress (5) tries to drive past Homewood-Flossmoor's Christian Meeks during a Class 4A Bloom Sectional semifinal in Chicago Heights on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

‘We believe in Ari’: After missing all eight of his shots in the first half, Ari Brown hits three 3-pointers and scores 13 points to lead Thornton past Homewood-Flossmoor in a 4A sectional semifinal

March 11, 2020 at 10:08 p.m.

Thornton senior Ari Brown couldn't buy a basket in the first half against Homewood-Flossmoor on Wednesday. The 5-foot-11 guard was 0-for-8 shooting. So what was Thornton coach Tai Streets' message...

Morgan Park's Brandon Weston lays in a shot against Hillcrest during a Class 3A Thornridge Sectional semifinal in Dolton on Tuesday, March 11, 2020.

Brandon Weston breaks out with a double-double as Morgan Park holds off Hillcrest in sectional semifinals: ‘I have to let people know I’m here.’

March 10, 2020 at 11:14 p.m.

With senior guards Adam Miller and Marcus Watson Jr. often commanding the spotlight, it's easy to overlook Morgan Park junior Brandon Weston. "I feel like I'm the third link," Weston...

Homewood-Flossmoor's Joel Watts, right, drives into the defense of Lincoln-Way East's Myles Olagbegi during a game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020.

Pat Disabato’s picks to click for the sectional semifinals in boys basketball at Bloom and Thornridge

March 9, 2020 at 12:13 p.m.

For those who prefer a Cinderella team or two as part of their experience during March Madness, the local Class 4A and 3A sectionals are sure to disappoint. For the...

Hillcrest's Mar'Keise Irving, right, drives past Rich Central's Semaj Greer during the Class 3A Hillcrest Regional championship game on Friday, March 6, 2020.

Junior forward Jakobi Heady ‘lets his game talk’ with 15 points, including back-to-back dunks, and eight rebounds as Hillcrest pulls away from Rich Central in a 3A regional final

March 6, 2020 at 10:42 p.m.

Hillcrest junior Jakobi Heady is a kid of few words, on and off the court. Which is fine with teammate Mar'Keise Irving. "Jakobi keeps things to himself," Irving said. "At...

Marist quarterback Dontrell Jackson Jr. throws a pass against Mount Carmel during a game on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019.

Disabato: Dontrell Jackson says ‘I love my family and I love my kid,’ makes right call to resign as Thornton’s football coach

March 6, 2020 at 6:47 p.m.

Nobody can ever question Dontrell Jackson's love for Thornton High School. He has walked the hallways as a student and coach. His passion extends beyond the football field. It encompasses...

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