A Run for Your Money

The Norsemen celebrated senior night with a commanding victory over Gardner-South Wilmington. This win gave the Norsemen multiple reasons to celebrate. It improved their home record to an undefeated 8-0 on the season, a feat to which they are well accustomed, as they have now accomplished this three out of the last four years. Senior Brett Anderson also became the third player in Newark history to score over 2,000 career points. The Norsemen finished the regular season with a trip to Indian Creek. A win over the Timberwolves would have given the Norsemen a share of the regular season conference title, but the team fell short of the victory.

The Norsemen began postseason play with high hopes. The team received the top-seed at the Serena Regional, giving them a first round match-up with Morgan Park. Newark came away with a win, advancing them to the championship game against Illinois Lutheran. The Norsemen knew it was going to be a difficult game, but they did what it took to earn the school’s fifth consecutive Regional crown.

The Norsemen advanced to the Mooseheart Sectional where they had a first round matchup with the Chicago Hope Academy Eagles. The Eagles played stifling defense, but the Norsemen overcame the pressure, advancing to the championship game against Deerfield Chicagoland Jewish. Battling foul trouble and physical play, the Norsemen ousted the Eagles. The win gave Newark its fourth trip to the Elite Eight – the Final Four being just one win away. Joe Hughes was thrilled after the Sectional Championship, saying, “I thought we would make it out of Regionals, but there was no way I thought we would win the Sectional. It’s a dream come true.”

The season took a turn for the worst when the Norsemen met Lanark (Eastland) in the NIU Super-Sectional. The team did their best to hang in the game for the first three quarters, but their fourth quarter run came up short. The loss ended the team’s dream run, a run nobody expected them to make. This season was one that nobody will forget, whether they were on the team or in the stands.

By Brett Anderson