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Seneca Survives For Sixty

Gutsy Newark Effort Puts Irish To The Test

 

By Bill Lidinsky

 

  At this time during a high school basketball season, no victory is going to come very easy, especially if your team is carrying around the added burden of an extremely long winning streak. Factor into the equation that your club is the defending IHSA Class A hoop champs and that burden becomes a gorilla that’s gaining weight with each and every game played and won.

  Wherever you go and whomever you’ll play, your opponent will be gunning for you with their best effort.

  At Newark High School on Tuesday night the Seneca Fighting Irish took the hefty baggage of their current long winning streak into the Norsemen’s pint sized, packed gymnasium and came out with a hard fought 57-43 victory.

  It was Seneca’s 60 th straight victory dating back to early 2005, which leaves them now 8 wins shy of the IHSA state record of 68. But this Irish triumph for number 60 was anything but easy despite the 14 point margin of victory.

  “It was a great game. Newark really played outstanding against us and never gave up,” said Seneca head basketball coach Doug Evans. “Give a lot of credit to their kids and their coaches because they battled hard to the end. We just feel fortunate to get out of here with a win.”

  Newark led for the majority of the first quarter behind the strong play of junior Ivo Gentchev who knocked down 10 points for the Norsemen during the opening eight minutes of play. But Seneca sophomore Seth Evans tallied seven points for the Irish in the first period including four in the last two minutes to give Seneca a 15-14 advantage going into quarter two.

  “We knew coming into this game it would be tough in the hostile environment of this small gym. Newark came out on fire in the first quarter,” Seth Evans said. “We pushed the lead a bit in the second period but they stuck with us.”

  Seneca would build a 33-23 advantage at halftime outscoring Newark 18-9 in the second quarter behind some tough inside play by Nick Andreatta who tallied six points in the second stanza.

  But the Norsemen ripped off 10 of the first 12 points in the second half to claw back to within two at 35-33.

  “I was really proud of our effort tonight against obviously one of the best Class A teams in the state,” said Newark head basketball coach Rick Tollefson. “We came out in the third quarter down ten and fought back hard. Our kids were ready tonight and we kept up our intensity level even though things didn’t always go our way.”

  One big blow for Newark came shortly after the Norsemen had closed the gap to two points in the third. Senior 6’5” standout Mitch Dunlap fouled out for Newark with 2:53 left on the clock in the period and the Norsemen dropped back to a 44-37 deficit after 24 minutes of play.

  But Newark kept the pressure on the Irish closing to within five at 47-42 with five minutes to play.

  However, Seneca spread the floor with their vaunted delay game down the stretch and hit seven-of-eight free throws in the waning minutes to seal their 60 th straight victory.

  “Losing Mitch in the third quarter hurt us. But if we could’ve hit a few shots when we needed them, this game might have gone another way,” Tollefson said. “Seneca’s just a very good team and they find ways to beat you. We had them on the run a couple of times and had them concerned. That’s all you can expect when you play a team of their caliber.”

  Gentchev led all scorers for Newark (8-7, 2-2) with 18 points, while Dunlap added 10 for the Norsemen before fouling out.

  Evans paced Seneca (15-0, 5-0) with 15, while Andreatta added 12 and Griffan Callahan tallied 11, as the Irish survived a tough test in what will surely be a familiar scene as the state record for wins moves closer and closer.

  Up next for Seneca is an Interstate Eight Conference matchup at Sandwich (11-8, 4-1) on Friday night. The gorilla gets heavier with every victory.

  “We know we’re going to see other teams best games as we move along with our streak. Everybody wants to be that team that ends it for us,” Doug Evans said. “Newark gave it a great shot tonight and we know Sandwich will have a big crowd waiting for us on Friday. Coach (Chris) Johnson will have the Indians ready to go and we know it will be tough. Hopefully we can keep things going and play well.”

 

Nice Encore For Somonauk

Bobcats Follow Rout Of Newark With Victory Over Sandwich

 

By Bill Lidinsky

 

  For the Somonauk High School varsity boys basketball team, Friday night’s 27 point victory over Newark was something very special, a game bordering on perfection if you will.

  So just 24 hours later it would stand to reason that the Bobcats, while as hard as they’d try, might have found it difficult to attain that lofty ‘near perfect’ status that accompanied their game against the Norsemen.

  Well chalk up a darn good attempt Saturday night for the guys in blue and gold at duplicating Friday’s win of rarefied air.

  Behind another stellar all around defensive and offensive team effort, Somonauk put together their second sparkling performance in as many nights.

  This time the Bobcats overwhelmed Interstate Eight non-conference opponent Sandwich 62-59 in the nightcap of ‘Pack The Place’ festivities at Somonauk.

  While it might not have inspired the jaw-dropping responses that Friday’s victory elicited, still, Saturday’s Bobcat triumph certainly deserved high praise nonetheless.

  “We definitely stepped up again for the second night in a row,” said Somonauk junior captain Scott Powers. “After beating Newark the way we did last night we came into tonight’s game with total confidence. Even though we didn’t execute quite as well, we still did a great job overall.”

  The Bobcats came flying out of the gate to take an 18-6 lead on Powers bucket with one minute to play in the first quarter. But Sandwich quickly recovered to tally three straight quick hoops to move the score to 18-12 after one period.

  Unlike Friday, Somonauk suffered a slight letdown in the second quarter as the Indians were able to fight back to a 24 all tie with 1:26 to go in the half.

  But the Bobcats regained their composure, never lost the lead and took a 28-26 advantage into the intermission.

  “We ran into a little trouble during a stretch in the second quarter where we struggled a bit offensively,” said Somonauk head basketball coach Ron Hunt. “We seemed a bit rattled when they tied us after we had the big lead early. But we settled down and got composed at halftime and were able to play some great basketball throughout the second half.”

  The Bobcats led by as many as nine in the third period as the offensive quickness and defensive pressure by Powers and teammate Josh Rivera forced the Indians into several turnovers and rushed shots. Somonauk took a 40-35 lead after 24 minutes of play.

  “Josh (Rivera) is the guy who really makes me look good. He’s all over the place on both ends of the court,” Powers said. “He’s our energizer bunny. I don’t think he ever slows down one bit and he really brought his defensive game tonight.”

  Powers and Rivera were instrumental in limiting Sandwich’s leading scorer’s Gil Buttels and Lance Futrell to six and four points respectively as the Indians continued to lose ground in the fourth quarter.

  Powers would tally eight of his game high 18 points during the final eight minutes of play as Somonauk prevailed by 12. Rivera chipped in next for the Bobcats with nine, while Nate Roach paced Sandwich with 10 points.

  As well as Somonauk (7-7) is going with two straight impressive victories, Sandwich (10-8) has been in a free fall since a semifinal overtime defeat to Genoa-Kingston at the Plano Christmas Classic. Saturday’s loss to the Bobcats was the Indians fourth straight since Dec. 29.

  “Physically we don’t have a problem. We’re the same team we’ve always been,” said Sandwich head basketball coach Chris Johnson. “But emotionally and mentally right now we look like we’re shot. It looks like somebody died and we’re forlorn. Right now we need to soul search a little bit. I know I’m trying to do so and hopefully once we win again, I think we’ll be fine.”

  Sandwich will try to right their ship Tuesday night at Streator-Woodland, while Somonauk will hope to continue their hot play at Genoa-Kingston also on Tuesday evening.