Newark basketball coach Chuck Nelson is the first to admit he is happy his team`s route to Champaign will not take the Norsemen anywhere near the Chicago area.
Virtually all of the Class A teams in the Chicago area are in the bracket that feeds into the Lincoln-Way supersectional. Newark, 25-0 and ranked No. 7 in last week`s statewide Class A polls, is in the bracket that feeds into the De Kalb supersectional.
”In my opinion, the Chicagoland route is by far the toughest route to Champaign,” says Nelson, whose team plays Serena Monday in the Somonauk regional. ”There are teams in the Chicago area that won`t get out of the sectional, maybe even the regional, who could be in the (state) quarterfinals. It`s just a fact.”
Here are some more facts about Newark, a school with an enrollment of 146 located in a rural community about a 30-minute drive west of Joliet:
— The Norsemen have won four of the last five Little 10 Conference championships.
— The seniors are 94-7 in their high school careers. They were 24-1 as freshmen, 21-4 as sophomores, 24-2 last year and are 25-0 this year.
— The team`s leading scorer and rebounder, 6-foot-8 1/2-inch forward Larry Hilt, has signed with Western Illinois University.
”They`re one of the finest Class A teams I`ve seen, within reason,”
says Hinckley-Big Rock coach Gary Lane, excluding a powerhouse like last year`s Providence-St. Mel team, which waltzed to the state title.
”I`m not saying that because they`re close and they`re in our conference. They`ve got size, they`ve got speed and they play together like a family.”
”This team is no fluke,” says Chicago Christian coach Will Slager, whose team lost 68-44 to Newark.
”They could go all the way,” says Lisle coach Mark D`Amico, whose team lost 82-63 to Newark last Tuesday.
Last year, Newark was routed through the Chicago area. The Norsemen lost to Wheaton Christian in the second game of the Lemont regional. They played most of that game, however, without Hilt, who injured his ankle in an opening- round victory over Aurora Central Catholic.
”Newark got a break this year,” Slager says. ”They`re not going to see a Westmont or a St. Mel or a St. Gregory.”
Last year`s quick exit in the regional might have left the wrong impression about the strength of this Newark team.
Hilt is averaging close to 20 points and 8 rebounds a game. He had 32 points and 8 rebounds in a 76-46 victory over Leland Friday.
Dave Olson, a 6-5 sophomore center, is averaging close to 18 points and 7 rebounds a game. He missed Friday`s game because of the flu, but is expected to play Monday.
Injuries and illnesses could stop Newark. Mike Vickery, the 6-1 starting point guard, broke his right hand Jan. 24 and missed the next four games. He played Friday but did not score.
Larry Ness, a 6-1 senior guard who is being recruited by Division II schools like Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji (Minn.) State, missed the final four games of the regular season with a severe virus infection in his respiratory system. He is not expected to play Monday.
”I think if we`re at full strength, we can play with anyone in the state right now,” Nelson says.
”I think they`re better than a lot of teams that were Downstate when we were (1984),” Lane says. ”I mean it, too. You`ll see.”
