Belvidere North battles back against conference leaders

By Chris Johnson

REPORTER

Following two consecutive conference losses to the Hononegah Indians and Harlem Huskies, the Belvidere North Blue Thunder looked to get things back on track during a Friday, Dec. 9 NIC-10 match against Rockford Guilford.

On paper, it looked like a good match-up. The Vikings though didn’t wait around to see how things unfolded as they raced out to a sizable lead and pushed their way to a 30-point decision, 85-55.

Against Boylan-trailer and conference-front runner Hononegah a week earlier, on Friday, Dec. 2, the Blue Thunder found ways to keep the Indians guessing on defense. The passing was working the ball around the floor, effortlessly at times for Belvidere North. The shots were open for split-seconds longer at times during the near-win. The opportunities remained in place even late in the game.

Hononegah though, with just one loss this season, pulled it out and came away with its own much-needed win. It allowed them to keep pace with Boylan, who has been running down all challengers so far.

Blue Thunder brought the best of their game home to face the Harlem Huskies on Wednesday, Dec. 7, but couldn’t get the one extra shot to fall as they fell by three points, 64-61. It was a similar story, revisited from just a few days earlier. Belvidere North just couldn’t get it done.

There are still a lot of games to be played. With a Wednesday, Dec. 14 match against Freeport scheduled to be played this week, before a showdown with the hard-charging E-Rabs arrives two days later, on Friday, Dec. 16, the Blue Thunder will have a chance to get a few things adjusted as they head into the second half of the winter sports season.

The showing so far hasn’t been too encouraging, if win-losses are the only measure of success. The ability to stay in games late against superior programs is something the Blue Thunder has found ways to do over the past three weeks of the season.

Tournament action will be enjoyed by many teams in the NIC-10 this holiday season but the conference schedule will resume in January 2017 as Belvidere North prepares for a shot at conference-leading Rockford Boylan on Friday, Jan. 6.

The schedule will be tough for the Blue Thunder over the first two weeks of 2017. A match against Auburn kicks off tournament-action beginning with a Saturday, Jan. 14 scheduled meeting with Sterling. Later in the tournament, Belvidere North also is expected to face Kankakee, Lake Forest Academy, and Willowbrook.

Games with Jefferson, Belvidere, and Harlem close January and helps Belvidere North set itself up for a better seed when the IHSA Selection Committee meets in February.