Belvidere North seeking streak

By Chris Johnson

REPORTER

The wins have happened recently and at a rate much faster than what had been occurring for the boys’ basketball team at Belvidere North High School. The current win streak approaches three as the Blue Thunder get ready for a road game at Guilford on Friday, Feb. 3.

The last time Belvidere North won two games in a row was during winter break. They defeated Blue Island-Eisenhower and Huntley by a combined five points Dec. 28 and Dec. 29. They lost seven in a row after that, three of them were to NIC-10 familiars.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, Belvidere North started a new streak. This one was a little more positive, and it started with a win over their nearest neighbor Belvidere. It would take overtime, but the Blue Thunder finished the job 54-52.

The Bucs jumped in front by three, 9-6 and started the second with the one-shot advantage. The Blue Thunder responded with 21 points in the second and eliminated the one-shot deficit with time to spare. Belvidere North’s efforts in the period led to a seven-point lead at the half, 27-20.

Belvidere responded in the third and pushed the Blue Thunder a step back once more.  Belvidere North was held to five points in the eight-minute period. The Bucs tallied 14 and took back control and entered the final frame in front by two, 34-32.

Shots were exchanged in the fourth quarter and free throws meant a lot. As the time wound down, the score remained tied. As the buzzer sounded, the match was all square at 44.

In the overtime period, the team that handles the defensive pressure better and commits fewer turnovers is usually going to win. Belvidere North played solid. They played one shot better than the Bucs and as the final buzzer sounded, signifying the end of the bonus period, Belvidere North had completed the first quarter comeback and notched the conference win.

Victory two in the current Blue Thunder success streak came courtesy of an upset win of the Harlem Huskies in Machesney Park on Friday, Jan. 27. Belvidere North took the night by six and went on to continue seeking their most successful win streak of the season.

Blue Thunder gets back into action Friday, Feb. 3 at Guilford. The regular season wraps up on Feb. 22 and the post-season follows.

Prior to the season finale at home against Freeport, the Blue Thunder will split their time on a home-and-away schedule beginning at home Wednesday, Feb. 8 against Hononegah. The journey continues as the team heads west to visit Rockford East then turns back for a Friday, Feb. 17 showdown with the Boylan Titans.

If the Blue Thunder can continue the win streak it will help foster an understanding that another win streak can happen, perhaps even in the playoffs.

A few wins in a row in the Class 4A Boys’ Basketball State Championship Tournament could mean a regional title. A win streak of around seven games could mean a state championship trophy is being accepted by the unsuspecting team who started in their own regional semi-final.

There’s always a second chance in the playoffs. Each team has a chance to find out what works best during the regular season and then find a way to put it to good use in the post-season.

It is common knowledge that in the IHSA Boys’ Basketball Playoffs, every team gets in. In the end though, only one team can call themselves a champion. All it takes is a well-timed streak.