North stands strong and in front in NIC-10

By Christopher Johnson

REPORTER

The Lady Blue Thunder continues to exert control over the field in the NIC-10 as the final month of regular season gets set to begin.

This past week, Belvidere North secured its two-game lead over the next closest competitor when they knocked back Hononegah in two games.

The win dropped the Lady Indians to 8-2 and in second place, tied with Rockford Guilford in the loss column and holding a two game advantage over Rockford Boylan and nearest neighbor Belvidere.

A week earlier, Belvidere North damaged the Lady Bucs’ thoughts of contention for the crown with a two games to none decision.

Rockford Auburn also suffered a similar fate after their get together last Tuesday. The Lady Blue Thunder rolled the Knights and started on its journey to a two-game lead and a double-digit conference win total.

Harlem played host to the Lady Blue Thunder on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Unfortunately details of that contest are unavailable at this time.

September matches close for Belvidere North on Thursday, Sept. 30. They will travel to Guilford and attempt to give the Lady Vikings its third or worse conference loss.

October action commences at home in a meeting with early conference contender Freeport. The Lady Pretzels had won once and had lost six conference matches heading into this past week of play.

With a 1-6 mark they held a one game lead over Rockford East in the loss column and a two game edge over NIC-10 basement-setter Rockford Jefferson.

The Lady Bucs streaky style has helped them hold ground in fourth place in the talented NIC-10. Belvidere is tied with Boylan and still very much in the hunt for a solid above .500 showing this season.

August action ended and September play carried Belvidere through the second week of the next to final month of the season having won four of five games.

They ran into Byron, which started a slight slide that included a follow-up loss to NUIC challenger Pearl City.

The rebound effect has allowed the Lady Bucs to have won back-to-back matches, twice, sandwiched between a modest three game losing streak.

With a record of 6-4, the next few games could help Belvidere attempt to slide up the standings, even though a track down of Belvidere North might be a little more difficult to accomplish.

Belvidere and Hononegah faced off on Tuesday, Sept. 28 and the Lady Bucs will travel to Machesney Park on Thursday for a showdown with Harlem.

October action involves back-to-back home games against Rockford Guilford on Tuesday, Oct. 5 followed by a Thursday, Oct. 7 meeting with Freeport.

Belvidere will travel to participate in weekend tournament games on Saturday, Oct. 9. The schedule will be quite active.

On the schedule for the Lady Bucs include the Dunlap Lady Eagles, from the northern edge of the Peoria region.

They will face Dixon, which is one of those teams in pursuit of a Big Northern Title and an overthrow of current conference leader Byron.

The Tournament closes with matches against Scales Mound at 3 p.m. followed by Geneseo at 9 p.m.

Rockford East helps usher in NIC-10 battles during the second week of October, which will also include a final warm-up ahead of a Thursday, Oct 19 rematch with undefeated Belvidere North.