In three seasons from 2010-2013, the North High basketball team has had a combined win column of 22 wins. This year, the boys’ have almost eclipsed that with a finishing record of 20-3. A team that has been in and out of the media and faced the most of adversity any team can face has show poise and focus throughout the season. In the preseason the North High team was one of the teams to be projected in the top six teams in the state. At the end of the regular season. they were ranked 5th in the 4A Division.

The year started off hot for the Polar Bears who won eight straight games. North started off by beating yearly powerhouse Johnston in their second game of their season. This streak also included  a win over Metro-Conference power Roosevelt to move them to 6-0 on the season. The win streak wasn’t all feel good moments though, there was narrow wins against Indianola (8-14) and East (4-16). The  bad times truly started when North suffered their first lost to Southeast Polk 74-68. The game featured poor three point percentages and unfinished layups. The game proved to be crucial to the team in that it showed that they can play well if their game is off and it also took the pressure of perfection off of them.

With the loss, came understanding and confidence. North truly reached midseason form after the loss by closing out games and learning to adapt to new playing styles. After their first loss the Bears went 5-1 losing only to Roosevelt. This nice little streak included a win over a top five Ankeny Centennial team in double overtime. This proved a critical stretch itself with the high of topping Centennial and the low of losing to Roosevelt which set up an important meeting in February with Hoover for the title of CIML Champions.

They closed the season out with a 6-0 span. Arguably the second biggest win happened at Wells Fargo against Waukee who lost by one despite hitting a buzzer beating three. The only other noteworthy win during this period was a win against Hoover that secured the CIML Championship for North. Here is where North proved itself by not sleep walking on the easier competition that happened here.

At North, many people know the struggles faced by their friends on the team, but thanks to the fame that comes with winning, others in the community found out as well. The team received a lot of media time thanks to their record and their personal stories and struggles caused a public outpour of help in the financial department, receiving anywhere from five dollars to thousands.

A dynamic duo in Terrance Bush and Teyontae Jenkins who lead in four different categories. Bush and Jenkins are the head of the pack in steals, Bush only beats Jenkins by 10 steals. Jenkins led the 4A division in assists and free-throws made. Bush and Jenkins are also in the top five leading scorers in the 4A division. Sam Williams was 2nd in the 4A division with blocks. The Bears’ as a team was one of the top 10 teams in rebounding and also led the 4A division in team steals. They also have the 2nd highest average points per game.

Season #2 – SUBSTATE: 

Round 1 – Lincoln

Four years ago, around this time, The North High boys’ basketball team took on DM Lincoln in the first round of Substate. Freshmen Teyontae Jenkins, Samuel Williams and Terrance Bush all looked skinnier and smaller than ever. The team fell to DM Lincoln in the ‘10-’11 season by barely scoring above 30 points as a team and only getting 10 points out of Jenkins and 7 from Williams. Now let’s fast forward to today. On February 24, a #5 DM North team took their home court as they faced a familiar foe. Now in their senior year, Jenkins, Bush and Williams are what some may call the “Big Three” for the North High team.

This year’s substate started off red-hot for North when Bush hit a three in the first ten seconds and another one on the next possession. Bush’s first quarter included four three-pointers. Despite this first quarter explosion Lincoln stayed close and trailed by only seven to start the second quarter. Jenkinshad a relatively quiet game with 13 points, but spoke loudly with ten assists for a double-double on the night. Williams had a great showing with 21 points, even with a travel on a massive been dunk. Bush had 20pts in the first half and finished with 32pts, including 7 of the 11 three-point baskets.

The Bears blew past the Rails, 83-62.

Round 2 – SEP 

7:00pm on a Friday night, the cold wind blows as the North High Boys headed east to 10th ranked Southeast Polk Rams. As the fans filled the stands, color seas of black and gold or green and white depict which side to sit on. A sort of cold electric feel filled the gym atmosphere as the boys’ warmed up on the court.

As the tip-off went to North, missed shots and good defense displayed by both teams plaqued the first five minutes of the 1st quarter. With time running down, the score of 5-4 would explode in the final three minutes of the 1st to 21-15 with North ahead. The teams would battle back and forth, a show displayed by Jenkins who exploded for 25 first half points. North would lead 35-34 coming into halftime. Both teams matched up well, and both teams had their advantages.

In the second half, Southeast Polk came out with a different tactic and pounded the paint. As shots flew, the Rams would take the lead but the Bears would stay within four. As the minutes passed, Bush would foul out in the fourth, who would have 18pts of the remaining 22 that weren’t scored by Jenkins. Time ticking away as the Bears drew closer but not close enough. Jenkins left his all on the court, scoring a staggering 42 points of the Bears’ final 64.

The Rams, what some call North’s suburban twin because of their style of play, pulled away from 5th ranked North. As the story book closed for the Bears, memories were not lost. Community members, students, staff and the players cried as the season ended. Standing ovations for both teams as they shook hands, as the seniors bursted into tears. As the boys went into the locker room, the Bears’ Den stayed around and waited for the players to come out. Hugs and congratulations greeted them as their heads were not hung, but held high, writing the final chapter of this historic season.

Jenkins has recently been awarded CIML Player of the Year. “Staying in front of Teyontae Jenkins as a defender is often a case of pick your poison,” said Chris Cellular of the DM Register in his article about the CIML selections. Bush recieved 2nd team All-CIML and leads a similar team to the All-CIML Elite team lead by Jenkins. As well as All-CIML selection, Jenkins, Bush, and Williams received 1st-team Metro Conference. Junior, Neico Greene, and sophomore Ben Hayes received Honorable Mention.