The Naperville North boys basketball team endured quite the offseason before the 2018-2019 season. They underwent a head coaching change, dealt with a conference that shrunk from eight opponents to four, and had only three returning players of the 14 members of the 2017-2018 team that won 26 games.
That returning core was joined by nine underclassmen, and it took some time to figure out how they would play together. The Huskies started the year 2-4 after playing tough competition in the Hoops 4 Healing Tournament and playing two games without senior Tom Welch. After the below-average start, the Huskies went on a five-game winning streak, which began with the defeat of crosstown rival Naperville Central. The Huskies continued their run by defeating Joliet West, Metea Valley, and Harlan-Chicago before opening the Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament with a win over Sandburg.
After dropping a tight 62-57 game to the number one seed in the Holiday Tournament, Riverside-Brookfield, and a tight loss to Metea Valley without Welch, the Huskies went on a four-game winning streak that ended with the Huskies defeating conference opponent Neuqua Valley with an 11-point fourth quarter comeback. The Huskies then kicked off 2019 on a strong note with back-to-back wins over Prosser and Guerin Prep. The Huskies tried to ride that momentum into a citywide televised matchup against the top sectional seed, the Geneva Vikings, but fell in overtime 61-56.
Following the match with the Vikings, the Huskies didn’t have another home game for almost a month, going 3-4 in the seven consecutive away games. The important thing about the three wins, however, was that they were all conference matchups, including a 55-33 win over Naperville Central where Welch tallied 33 points himself to match the Redhawks’ scoring.
The next home game was a charity event planned by the Huskies basketball team and led by Tom Welch. Proceeds from wristbands and a "Miracle Minute" went to the Karen Foundation, and while the home crowd was surprisingly quiet, the team continued to create their own energy and defeated the Rich East Rockets 69-50.
The Huskies wrapped up the regular season with two wins over Montini Catholic and Neuqua Valley, finishing their season with a 17-11 overall record and a 7-1 conference record to claim the title of Dupage Valley Conference champions for the second straight season. Despite the first place conference finish, the Huskies are the 11th seed heading into the Barrett sectional as the IHSA playoffs are set to begin next week.
Barring any upsets, the Huskies will face West Chicago, Glenbard West, Lyons Township, Geneva and Benet in order to reach the super-sectional, which the Huskies haven’t reached since the 2016-2017 season. The Huskies have already shown they have the pieces to hang with Geneva and Benet, as the Huskies took Geneva into overtime and held a lead over Benet through three quarters earlier this season, despite losing both games.
6'5" Aldana, 6'6" sophomore Grant Johnson and 6'8" Welch should have no problem shooting over West Chicago, whose tallest player is 6'4". Glenbard West has four seniors who combine to average 45 points a game, so if the Huskies can contain any three of Carter Lindstrom, Evan Taylor, Griffin Forster and Corey Williams, a win should be in order, even though the matchup would be a home game for the Hilltoppers. Lyons Township is another shorter team, as Welch stands three inches over the tallest Lion. They'll have to watch out for senior guard Josh Berry, who had a strong end to his regular season despite previously dealing with injuries.
Before thinking about any other opponents, the Huskies will need to defeat the West Chicago Wildcats. The Huskies and Wildcats will face off tonight in the first round of the playoffs at Glenbard West High School, and will play at 7:30 P.M.
Directions to Glenbard West High School from Naperville North can be found here.