The not-so-friendly confines

BY JONAH ROSENBLUM | Contributor | @Pioneer_PrepsJR

With its high-arching dome ceiling, the Titan Dome resembles Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately for Glenbrook South, one of the most distinctive venues in the Central Suburban League has failed to provide the Titans with a home-court advantage anywhere resembling that which The World’s Most Famous Arena provides the Knicks.

All four of the Titans’ conference losses have come at the Titan Dome, with losses to powerhouses like New Trier and Maine South mixed in with losses to teams with less gaudy records like Niles West and Waukegan. Glenbrook South coach Ben Widner noted that the Titans played five of their first seven games away from home, so Glenbrook South has yet to heat up in its own home building.

“We’ve just played more on the road,” Widner said. “At the start of our season, we didn’t play a home game for forever so we got comfortable on the road. I don’t think it has anything to do with being home. We’ve played very good competition. Our conference games are tough and they’re going to be tough, and they’re going to be tough at home or on the road.”

His players also pointed to the half-full bleachers, noting that a more deafening home atmosphere might help them out.

“I don’t think it has much of an (impact) being home or away,” senior guard Max Cohen said. “We haven’t really gotten that many fans out, so I guess it’s just all the same.”

Home-court advantage or not, junior center Conor McCarthy said that his team simply has to step it up coming out of the locker room at the Titan Dome.

“I don’t think we’re playing our best ball here,” McCarthy said following Glenbrook South’s home loss to Waukegan. “We’re not having great second halves. Our first halves have been great. We had a great first half in this one. Second half, we just haven’t really been coming out strong. Also, I think our fan base could be a little bit better. We didn’t have a really strong one, but that’s no excuse, really. We just got to have stronger second halves.”

Glenbrook South will not see much more of the Titan Dome this season. The Titans have just two home games remaining, with seven of their next eight games taking place away from the not-so-friendly confines of the Titan Dome.