Newark's Anderson won't travel alone

Updated: March 23, 2011 3:52PM

Even before Tuesday's Class 1A

DeKalb Supesectional at Northern Illinois had tipped off, Newark's Jeremy Anderson had a ticket to Peoria so the only question would be how large would his fan base be?

As one of the 32 qualifiers for the IHSA's Three-Point Shootout, Anderson was ecstatic that he'll be competing along with his Norsemen teammates after Newark posted a 60-47 victory over Forreston.

"The last thing I wanted to do was make that trip by myself, I'd rather get the whole team there instead of me," Anderson said. "I've always wanted to make it there for three-point contest and figure it'll be fun, but I'd trade that for us being there as a team. Now it's just going to be part of the fun."

And that's the Newark senior's approach as opposed to even contemplating the rarity of being the school's second Class A "King of the Hill," since 1995 champ Brian Hatteberg was among the faithful at Northern Illinois University's Convocation Center Tuesday night cheering the Norsemen to their 17th straight win within a

31-1 season.

"Wouldn't that be something to have two champions from Newark?" Hatteberg said.

As far as his advice for Anderson? "Relax and just shoot. Jeremy's on a roll so I think he'll be just fine, three-point shooting is part muscle memory and part luck. That's why Ray Allen can hit 13 straight and then miss 11 of his next 13."

Against Forreston, Jeremy's younger brother Brett stepped up with a game-high 22 points while Newark's usual scoring leader Kyle Anderson – no relation – was next with 17. Jeremy Anderson nailed his only three-point shot as part of a seven-point, team-high eight-rebound, two-assist and two-steal performance to help the Norsemen finally leave NIU's Convo Center with a win.

"Really we said we're not going to think about the last two years, it's in the past, we're going to Peoria," Anderson said. "As for my (three-point) opportunity and being there as a team, I really thank God, my teammates, coaches, and the community for all the support."

That's something Hatteberg hopes will be a plus for Anderson and the Norsemen.

"I know everyone says their community is special, but Newark really is proud of its people. I had so many friends and family there for me and it would have been the same for Jeremy if the team didn't make, now there will just be that many more people," Hatteberg said. "I was lucky in that the most (threes) I made came in the finals. To me the three-point shot has changed the game so much, you can't count anyone out. If you're down 20 at the half but get hot, you can fight your

way back in it."

In another touch of irony, there was yet another IHSA "King of the Hill" in attendance Tuesday night in DeKalb: Forreston coach Jonathan Schneiderman was the 1999 champion during his prep days at his alma mater.

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