State House recognition, key to the city of Worcester among latest honors for North High
WORCESTER — The accolades continue to pour in for the history-making North High boys’ basketball team.
The Polar Bears capped a 24-2 campaign by defeating Needham, 73-64, on March 19 at the Tsongas Center in Lowell to become the first Division 1 public school from Worcester to win a state title.
North, which basked in the glow of its hard-earned and well-deserved accomplishment during a rolling rally through the city a week later, will once again be recognized for its efforts, this time on Wednesday afternoon during a visit to the Massachusetts State House.
The Polar Bears are scheduled to arrive at the State House at 11 a.m. They’ll be given a tour of the hallowed halls on Beacon Street in Boston that opened in 1787 and have lunch.
“Then we’ll be honored in front of the (elected officials),” coach Al Pettway said. “That's a big workday at the State House, so everyone will be there.”
The North contingent will be guests of the Worcester delegation, which is comprised of state representatives Daniel Donahue, Mary Keefe, David LeBoeuf, John Mahoney, and James O’Day and state senators Anne Gobi, Robyn Kennedy and Michael Moore.
Pettway said the team will receive a key to the city from Mayor Joseph Petty during the City Council meeting on May 9 and about a month later, on June 3, the players will receive championship rings and varsity jackets – which are in the process of being made – following a brunch at Union Station.
While it’s been more than a month since the season ended – with the Polar Bears having won their final 21 games – it’s still been a lot to absorb and process for the players.
“I think they’re so young they don’t quite – at least from what I can see – they don’t quite (fully) understand what they actually did,” Pettway said.
“But they’re just good, humble kids. They’re excited, but they’re humble about it, and I think they have a lot more pride now because they won.”
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As for next season, North will once again play a challenging schedule.
Rematches with Lawrence, Newton North – which they defeated in the state semifinals – and St. Mary’s are on tap while Lynn English and Wellesley were added to the slate. The Polar Bears were invited back to the KSA Events Tournament in Florida and to the Sun Bash Series, also in the Sunshine State.
Pettway is hoping that’s enough to entice his team, which will only graduate one senior and includes the junior trio of T&G Super Teamers Joe Okla, Tahlan Pettway and Teshaun Steele along with sophomore starters Khari Bryan and Amir Jenkins, to stay put rather than embark on the prep route.
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“There is some pretty stiff competition, so why wouldn’t you come back,” Pettway said. “They’re playing AAU, so they’re getting recruited (by colleges) in AAU. So, I don’t know, I feel like they can do all they can do.”
One player who will not be back for a run at repeating is Ty Tabales. The sophomore guard, who returned from an in-season, three-week hospital stay that included two surgeries, announced earlier this month he will transfer to New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire.
“He jump-started, he was part of the group that lost in the Sweet 16 (last season) and he came back to fight for that state title and he was a big part of us accomplishing that,” Pettway said of Tables, whose monster fourth quarter against Newton North sent the Polar Bears to the state final for the first time since 1980.
“I know he had a setback this year with his illness, but I’m confident that the kid will work hard and come back even stronger and better than before that illness.”
—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichGarvenTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: More accolades coming for state champion North High boys' hoops team
