Programs have multiple priorities.
Hanover is locked into the Greater South Shore Conference league schedule.
Plus Lowell plays CP, Portage, Morton and Griffith. Lowell has played CP and Griffith since the dawn of time. Lowell plays Morton every year.....its not either/or..
To be in a conference you have to have a lot of IHSAA sports.
I believe Hanover and Wheeler , as vito said, has more competitive sports than Hammond does.