Subscribe by RSS
Bucs make history with Pearson
When Head Coach Aaron Pearson arrived at Belvidere High School a decade ago, he promised to make Bucs basketball as renowned as its legendary football tradition.
With top assistant Nate Lister at his side throughout his tenure, Pearson has delivered and continues to add pages to an enviable record with the Bucs only NIC-10 championship (2012-2013) in School District 100 history punctuated by last year’s first Regional Championship in 26 years and this year’s repeat as Regional Champions.
Complemented by Lister and assistants Bob White, Matt Sattelberg, and Mike Hernandez, Belvidere has established itself as a formidable opponent against any size school including unfairly advantaged, IHSA-enabled, and entitled private schools infused with PEDs (Performance Enhancing Demographics) with Pearson’s notoriously stern, innovative, and “Buc Tough” defensive schemes and clock management.
Only losing Deante Barnes now playing at Rock Valley, Eric Munoz playing football at Upper Iowa, and Matt Kopp playing football at Coe from last year’s champions, seven returning seniors celebrated unprecedented back-to-back Regional Championships.
Austin Brockmann was last year’s most improved player and continued in this year’s rotation as a deadly streak shooter and feisty defender.
Xavier Dent at 6’1″ played very large under the boards despite giving up at least 4″ in every game.
Joey Hernandez was another streaky shooter who made several clutch foul shots during the season.
Nate Horton has flubber in his flashy sneakers and provided ESPN highlights that are now a part of BHS lore.
Establishing himself as one of Belvidere’s best all-around athletes and sportsmen, Will Morris should clear his calendar for future induction into the Bucs Hall of Fame for his record-breaking first-team all-conference year in football (receptions) and first-team all-conference year on the court. College scouts for this part of Illinois should be fired if they don’t beg him to suit up for them in either sport.
Austin Revolinski is already a three-sport legend at BHS and will join Morris in the Hall of Fame. The record-breaking passing and rushing first-team all-state quarterback who was among a handful of the most dominating hoopsters in the NIC-10 since his sophomore year epitomizes the “Buc Tough” tenacity and competitive spirit that send shivers through opponents whenever the skull and crossbones crew enter the building or take the field. With his rarely matched thirst for winning that has turned heads since junior tackle football, Revolinski is a no-brainer for any college in search of hoisting trophies.
Jacob Rodriquez played very big on the court as he did on the gridiron and backed down to no one at point.
Transfer senior Jay Blandin from Palatine joined the supporting cast of juniors Shawn Dean, Dominic Dozal, Brady Hauser, Phil Kolk, and Kalen Murray to complete the now historical roster of BHS basketball champions.
After dominating regional action with a convincing 61-58 win over Rochelle for the crown, the Bucs looked fixed for their first sectional game in four decades until a stupefying never-ever-no-call call with 0.1 second on the clock set the internet ablaze with cries of foul.
A thrilling game featuring an unflappably patient Sycamore against the deeper and more athletic Bucs ended with virtually no time on the clock as the contest came down to two foul shots.
Preceded by two phantom charging calls by the same official and a NBA-range three-pointer by Revolinski to put the Bucs up 35-34 with 14.7 ticks left, BHS coaches, players, and fans looked on helplessly in disbelief as Sycamore senior James Marcinkowski’s first shot hit the back of the rim and rolled in and then his second shot hit nothing but net for the Spartans’ 36-35 triumph.
Sycamore senior Ty Sulaver led all scorers with 12 points.
Dent led the Bucs with 10 points followed by Revolinski (seven), Horton (five), Brockmann (five), Morris (four), Kolk (two), and Rodriguez (two).
Thanks to Pearson and his swashbuckling assistants and players, championship basketball has found a permanent place in Belvidere.
