KEN KARRSON: Two months later, Meteors still searching

CALUMET CITY | What a difference 63 days haven't made.

Back at the beginning of December, Tim Bankston was filled with optimism. On the night I saw his T.F. North club play at Evergreen Park, the Meteors were impressive as they forced 29 turnovers and won in a rout.

Considering that Bankston's teams have traditionally made tremendous progress between December and February, North's immediate future seemed bright. I remember thinking how those opponents that popped up later on the Meteors' slate might live to regret the unfortunate scheduling.

Little has changed at North in the past two months, however, and because the Meteors appear to be running in place, a rapidly improving T.F. South squad was able to finally administer payback for years of frustration.

The Rebels' 57-52 win Friday snapped an 11-season drought against their District 215 sister school, and the outcome wasn't really in much doubt. T.F. South led for almost the entire second half and didn't trail after moving ahead 16-15 midway through the second period.

"For this program, it's huge," Rebels coach John O'Rourke said of the victory. "It's a testament to our kids. They've busted their tails in practice."

Bankston isn't about to hang his own kids out to dry, but he also refused to sugarcoat North's situation. The Meteors will be below .500 when the state tournament commences and, more importantly in their coach's view, they've yet to develop the kind of cohesiveness that suggests a decent postseason run is possible.

"This group has not come together," Bankston said. "They haven't accepted who they are. Everybody wants to do something that's not in the game plan -- (against South), our guards thought it was 'Guard Night' and didn't give up the ball.

"You can't go out there and play for them. We'll just continue to teach."

In fairness to North, its roster is populated by a number of underclassmen, some of whom are new to the program. That would explain why Bankston said, "I don't think they understand the tradition of T.F. North basketball."

Is this season the inevitable hiccup that every team faces at some juncture? Even Bankston -- who had never before lost to T.F. South as a head coach -- admitted the Meteors may just be a law-of-averages victim.

Something to note, though, is that North's sophomores suffered a 17-point defeat against South. Maybe that's just an indication the Rebels aren't going to become pushovers anytime soon, but I'm sure the outcome was duly noted by Bankston.

His track record of molding successful teams has been too good for too long to believe Bankston has suddenly lost his touch, but knowing that probably doesn't make the here and now any more palatable for him and his assistants. They have no choice, however, but to ride out the storm.

And to keep hoping the conditions clear up soon.

This column is solely the writer's opinion. Reach him at kenneth.karrson@nwi.com.