The Niles West Girls Varsity basketball team faces Schaumburg in what will celebrate 40 years of girls basketball on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Wolves will tip off at 1:30 p.m. with former players being honored throughout the event.

Starting off pre-game at 12:30 the 1981 Final Four squad, 1979 State Championship Team and former coaches will all be recognized. At Halftime, all former players will be noticed and there will be a conduction of the Top 25 Players of All Time. After the game, the festivities will continue with a reception in the Niles West Student commons.

There will be a sign-up at the game for a small fee to join the team at the Morton Grove location of Giordano’s after the reception in the Student Commons.

Physical education teacher Rebecca Tuecke, who has been responsible for much of the event planning, said she has really been looking forward to the game.

“I am very excited about the event coming up this Saturday. Honoring 40 years of Girls Basketball at Niles West is very special,” she said.

Tuecke also recognized that Niles West Girls’ basketball started not long after Title IX was passed, a title which states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

“Title 9 was passed in 1973 and Niles West started the official program in 1974,” she said.

According to Tuecke, 75 to 100 alumni are expected to be in attendance for the game.