'D' Bulls top LeBron
Would you believe the Bulls won for a second straight game because of their -- ahem -- defense? Believe it.

The battle for Troy
Last season, Troy Snyder didn't get all of the attention from the media or even the opponents of Bolingbrook's boys basketball team. However this season things are a little different as the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay freshman forward will be under a microscope while fighting for playing time.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Offense • Dominate the line of scrimmage. The O-line should be ready as last week they faced its biggest line of the year.

Safe to call this a rematch?
Bolingbrook and Downers Grove South have played each other three times in three years, however none will be as big as their fourth meeting Saturday in a Class 8A second-round playoff game.

This Hammers' trade is special
Brandon McArthur has been acquired by the Joliet JackHammers for the playing rights of Michael Moore. But it hardly ranks as your average trade.

'Brook survives first-round scare
On a night when the wind was a big factor, and field position was high on the priority list, the Bolingbrook High School coaching staff took a half-time gamble that paid off as the Raiders defeated Lyons Township 17-10 in the opening round of the 8A playoffs.

Teams' seasons conclude
So close, yet so far away.

Bolingbrook wanting to build upon improvement
Patience really does pays off.

The second season has finally arrived
The road to Champaign begins tonight for the Bolingbrook Raiders as they welcome Lyons Township for a Class 8A first-round playoff game.

2010: Hammers play 50 at home
The Joliet JackHammers have announced their 2010 regular-season schedule, which includes 50 home games. The Hammers will begin play Friday, May 21, in Fargo, N.D., against the defending Northern League champion Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Fabulous 15 in state football playoffs
Fifteen indeed was the magic number. That's how many Joliet area high school football teams have been invited to the postseason playoff extravaganza.

'Brook's Martin makes L-Way C. feel sick
Jamel Martin wasn't feeling very good, but the senior tailback put aside his illness and helped Bolingbrook gain a share of the Southwest Suburban Blue football crown. He rushed for 172 yards on 23 carries and scored 4 touchdowns in a 26-13 victory over Lincoln-Way Central on Friday night at Lashmet Field.

Oswego stops Romeoville ride
After averaging over 33 points per game and scoring at least 20 points in every outing, Romeoville's football team was shut down on Friday night.

Bolingbrook girls ready to take on regional
All of the hours and miles of training come down to one race that lasts less than 20 minutes on Saturday as the Bolingbrook girls cross country teams aims to qualify once again as a team for sectionals.

Bolingbrook face tougher road out of sectional
The road to yet another sectional berth just got tougher as the Raiders boys cross country team is preparing for the Bolingbrook Regional meet on Saturday.

Despite playoff loss, Raiders thrived in '09
On Tuesday, Bolingbrook fans found out that football is not the only game of inches.

Facing strong air attack
The Bolingbrook Raiders didn't earn any style points in their 26-13 victory at Sandburg on Oct. 16.

Geever's 3 TDs lead 'Brook
Brad Geever threw for 3 touchdowns in the game, including one in the fourth quarter, as Bolingbrook rallied to remain in a first place tie in the SouthWest Suburban Blue with a 26-13 victory over Sandburg on Friday night in Orland Park.

It's Plainfield C. on one wild and crazy night
A veteran official came over to the chain gang and said, "This game has more weird, unique penalties than any one I've ever seen." A fellow reporter on the sideline must have remarked a half-dozen times, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."

'Hammers offer Rush a piece of Joliet pie
The Joliet JackHammers have reached out to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh to become an investor in the franchise. Now that he will no longer be part of the group looking to purchase the St. Louis Rams, he may have some funds available to invest somewhere else.

Boys look at big picture
While conference championships are nice, a lot of teams like to look at the big picture of a season.

Brook girls want to keep improving
While a conference title might be out of reach in 2009, the Bolingbrook girls cross country team has plenty of expectations and goals as they head into their Southwest Suburban Conference Meet on Saturday.

Raiders want to keep the good times going
The only thing that beats a memorable regular season is a memorable postseason.

Key football diet staple: a balanced offense
During the 2009 season, Bolingbrook has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

KEYS TO THE GAME

3 if by air for the Brook
One is a freshman, the other has huge cast on his left arm to protect a broken thumb. Together, Bolingbrook High School wide receivers Aaron Bailey and Chris Williams combined to break the hearts of the Lincoln-Way East Griffins.

Minooka QB has coming out party vs. Romeoville
He wasn't expected to be the starting quarterback this season, let alone the homecoming hero. Mitch Brozovich put an exclamation point on his miraculous return from offseason surgery in Minooka's 56-22 high school football victory over Romeoville on Friday night.

Cooke warms up to cold weather, reaches sectional
With cold rain coming down at Inwood Golf Course in Joliet on Tuesday, and with winds the gusting to 20 mph, the Bolingbrook boys golf team shot a 361 at the Joliet Township Regional.

Prep rewind
On Saturday the Bolingbrook Youth Baseball League (Pony affiliated) will be hosting a 13U tryout for its new travel team.

Raiders armed with confidence
Coming off its first winning season in more than a decade, the Bolingbrook girls tennis team heads into Friday's SWSC Division Meet with plenty of confidence and experience.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Raiders brace for showdown with Griffins
Although every game is important for the Bolingbrook football team, the game Friday night at home against Lincoln-Way East (No. 4 in the Chicago Sun-Times) might turn out to be the biggest game of the regular season.