Basketball Preview

Elgin senior Kory Brown is back to lead the Maroons after earning Courier-News and Upstate Eight River Player of the Year honors as a junior. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

More Playoffs

 Prairie Ridge's Andrew Lanza (54) celebrates after their 6A playoff game victory at Prairie Ridge HIgh School in Crystal Lake, Ill., on Saturday, November 12, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Prairie Ridge's Sean Valentine (4) misses a catch in front of Nazareth's Phillip Gaspari (22) during the second quarter.( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / November 12, 2011 )

Prairie Ridge's Connor Greenwald (22) rushes up the middle during the second quarter.( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / November 12, 2011 )

Gallery: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/ct-spt-1113-prep-foot-pr-naz-photo,0,4795997.photogallery

Veterans Day

 Elgin American Legion Post 57 member Rich Moen, of Elgin, Ill., participates during the Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Elgin, Ill., on Friday, November 11, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

World War Two veteran Gordon Schnulle of Elgin, Ill., speaks to students during the Veterans Day ceremony at Hampshire Middle School in Hampshire, Ill., on Friday, November 11, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Clown

Kyle Barker puts on his clown makeup before the Ringling
Brothers Circus at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. on Friday.
Baker, who is from the Elgin area, has been with the circus since
November 2009. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

6A Playoff

 Lakes' players including Ty Summers (right holding jug) dump a water jug on Direll Clark (25, center, left of jug, wearing helmet) after their 6A football playoff victory at Grant High School in Fox Lake, Ill., on Friday, November 4, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

Lakes' players including Trevor Braverman (34, center) climb into the stands after their 6A football playoff victory at Grant High School in Fox Lake, Ill., on Friday, November 4, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)