By Scott Taylor | @Taylor_Sports
The new Southwest Prairie Conference kicks off this year with the addition of Joliet Central and Joliet West.
The conference decided to have all 10 teams play each other in the nine-game schedule, meaning there will be no non conference games for teams in the conference, but there will be a balanced schedule. Here is a breakdown of each team’s schedule in the SPC.
JOLIET CENTRAL
The Steelmen (0-9) begin play Aug. 26 with a home game against Plainfield East (4-5) at 6:30 p.m. in their initiation to the SPC. A home game the following Friday against Minooka (5-5) ensues.
Their first road game in conference play is at Oswego East (6-4) before they return home for a Saturday game against Plainfield Central (0-9). The Plainfield rotation continues with a trip to South (5-5) before a home game against North (6-4).
Joliet Central then travels to perennial SPC powerhouse Oswego (9-3) before a home game with rival Joliet West (4-5) on a Saturday. The regular season comes to a close with a trip to Romeoville (1-8), which the Steelmen faced the first couple years of the split.
JOLIET WEST
The Tigers begin their quest for the playoffs with three straight home games to open the season. They face Oswego East the opening Friday night before taking on familiar foes in Plainfield South and Oswego on Saturdays. West beat the Cougars last year in non conference play and fell to the Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs two years ago.
West turns to the road to take on Romeoville before facing off with Plainfield East at home. It then travels to play Plainfield Central on Homecoming on a Saturday before its final home game against Minooka.
A pair of road games at Joliet Central (Saturday) and Plainfield North conclude the season.
MINOOKA
The Indians have a tough game right out of the gates in Oswego at home before road games at Joliet Central and Plainfield East. They retune home to take on Plainfield North for a seconds straight year at home before playing at Plainfield Central for the second consecutive year.
The closing stretch features three home games in the final four. It opens with a home game against Romeoville before a road test at Joliet West. The Indians conclude play with home games against Oswego East and Plainfield South in the Ridge Road Rivalry.
JOLIET CATHOLIC
The Hilltoppers return to the stacked East Suburban Catholic Conference after a 10-2 season last year. They open play at Franklin, WI before traveling to Wheaton North (4-5).
A third straight road game against St. Patrick (3-6) on a Saturday is next before they finally get a home game against Notre Dame (8-2). A trip to Woodstock to face Marian Central (8-3) is next up before a home game against Nazareth, which beat JCA in the playoffs last year.
JCA goes back on the road for games against Benet (8-3) and Marian Catholic (1-8) before a third and final home game to end the season against Marist (9-5).
LOCKPORT
The Porters came close to a playoff berth last year and hope to get over that hump this year. They open play at Downers North (5-5) before a home game against South Elgin (9-2).
The new look Southwest Suburban Conference opens with a Porters trip to familiar foe Lincoln-Way Central (4-5).
A home game against Homewood-Flossmoor (10-2) is next, followed by a trip to Andrew (3-6). The tough schedule continues with home games against Bolingbrook (5-5) and Lincoln-Way West (11-3) before a road game at Stagg (2-7). The season concludes with a trip to Lincoln-Way East (8-3).