Bob Narang

Bob Narang is a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune.

Evanston's Rashele Olatunbosun looks to run a play against Glenbrook North during the Class 4A Glenbrook North Regional final on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. Evanston won 62-25.

Barrington’s Sophie Swanson wastes no time in adjusting as a go-to scorer; Lyons nets signature win against previously undefeated York

March 15, 2021 at 4:20 p.m.

Barrington sophomore guard Sophie Swanson approached the truncated season with excitement. After six players graduated last year, Swanson realized she had to become an even bigger contributor. As a freshman,...

Maine South's Nicole Gardiner drives for a layup during Evanston's 65-51 win in the Class 4A Maine West Sectional semifinals on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Coming up with a plan: Rolling Meadows coach Ryan Kirkorsky inks a season’s worth of starting lineups even before a game is played

March 7, 2021 at 10:46 p.m.

Rolling Meadows coach Ryan Kirkorsky adopted a new philosophy this season. Kirkorsky, who guided the Mustangs to consecutive Class 4A runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014, mapped out his starting...

St. Viator's Emma Morrisey pushes the ball upcourt against Resurrection during a Class 3A Crystal Lake South Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. St. Viator won 48-38.

Patience pays: St. Viator’s Emma Morrisey puts up big numbers a season after suffering a broken ankle

February 28, 2021 at 9:00 p.m.

St. Viator senior guard Emma Morrisey has learned the value of patience. Morrisey, a three-year varsity player, endured a lengthy wait to get on the court in each of the...

Stevenson's Ava Bardic, right, shoots while being guarded by Lake Forest's Molly Fisher during the Class 4A Lake Forest Regional final on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. Lake Forest won 51-46.

No state tournament? No problem for Hersey, ranked No. 1 in the state and averaging 29-point margin of victory in four games

February 21, 2021 at 10:35 p.m.

The Hersey girls basketball team was motivated to finish its season in Normal. With nearly every key player back after reaching a Class 4A sectional semifinal last season, the Huskies...

York's Jeffrey Grace (25) grabs a rebound during a game against Montini in the first round of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019.

Excitement over having a basketball season outshines headaches of game scheduling, finding gym time; ‘We’ll take whatever we can get’

February 7, 2021 at 8:50 p.m.

By this point of his career, Evanston senior guard Blake Peters is accustomed to playing basketball in March. So the idea of hooping it up in meaningful games for the...

IC Catholic's Kyle Franklin, center, keeps his footing in the mud as he breaks through the line and heads to the end zone for a touchdown during a Class 4A state quarterfinal at Richmond-Burton on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Richmond-Burton won 24-14.

No varsity snaps? No problem. New Trier’s Finn Cohan gets college interest despite only having played sophomore football

January 31, 2021 at 10:06 p.m.

By this point of his career, New Trier junior Finn Cohan had planned to be an established name in Chicago area basketball. Cohan started playing in elementary school and is...

It’s not the end: St. Viator grad D.J. Morris continues his basketball career in Croatia, coaching for Full Package AAU team

January 19, 2021 at 1:40 a.m.

All signs pointed to the end of D.J. Morris' playing career. Since graduating from St. Viator in 2012, Morris has spent most of his time coaching youth basketball. He's become...

Prospect's Chase Larsen (14) drives past Mundelein's Jack Bikus in a Class 4A sectional semifinal on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

Prospect’s Chase Larsen ends shortened postseason run with confidence; ‘It finally clicked’

March 16, 2020 at 6:08 p.m.

Prospect junior guard Chase Larsen attempted to explain his meteoric rise from unknown sophomore to a big-play threat rubbing elbows with some of the best players in the state. Yet,...

Highland Park's Val Oplchenski (33) tries to get around Lake Forest's Will Thomas (30) on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

Boys basketball notebook: Highland Park ends best season in five years with regional final loss to Stevenson; Lake Forest looks to the future

March 9, 2020 at 3:27 a.m.

Highland Park coach Paul Harris had a brief discussion with Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose before Friday's playoff game. The veteran coaches have been a big part of the fabric in...

Evanston's Ricardo Salinas, left, and Glenbrook South's Norbert Crecan wrestle at 170 pounds on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.

Wrestling notebook: Evanston’s Ricardo Salinas keeps winning streak going at 24 matches; Hakham Yahya only Niles North wrestler to move on to sectionals

February 10, 2020 at 10:12 p.m.

Evanston's Ricardo Salinas required an extra workout following his final match on Saturday. After Salinas earned a pinfall victory over Glenbrook South's Norbert Crecan to capture first-place in the 170-pound...

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