‘We knew we could get it’: Chargers set new single-season wins record by beating Rockets

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Twenty-two.

Tre Neiderman and the Illini West boys basketball players have had that magic number in their sights since setting a goal during summer workouts to eclipse the program’s single-season record for victories.

“We knew that we could get it,” Neiderman said.

Now the Chargers have it.

With a 57-40 victory over Rushville-Industry on Wednesday, the Chargers improved to 22-8, eclipsing the record of 21 victories set by last year’s team and the 2011-12 squad.

“We kind of spoke it into existence,” said Neiderman, a senior guard. “We knew it was an achievable goal for this group.”

Junior forward Wesley Robertson, whose buzzer-beater against Beardstown in last year’s Class 2A Warsaw Regional quarterfinal game — also on Feb. 19 — helped the 2023-24 team tie the record, said matching but not eclipsing the record gave the Chargers some extra motivation this season.

“Last year, we got so close to getting over that hump,” Robertson said. “This year, we got over it, and it gives us more confidence going into the postseason as well.”

Neiderman said the Chargers’ record-breaking win gives him and his teammates something to brag about to the class of players who graduated last year and won 20 games in a season three times.

“We always joke with the guys that graduated that we’re going to get it,” Neiderman said. “It’s going to feel nice to rub it in their face a little bit.”

Robertson expects nothing but good vibes at school on Thursday.

“We’re all going to be in good moods, talking to all the student section kids,” Robertson said. “They always hype us up, and it brings a lot of happiness into our school.”

Both Neiderman and Robertson played significant roles in propelling the Chargers to their history-making victory. Neiderman, who happens to wear No. 22, poured in 22 points and made six 3-pointers, five of which came in the second and third quarters.

“It’s always nice when you can shoot the shot and know it’s going to go in,” Neiderman said. “When you’re feeling it, it’s really nice.”

Neiderman had made just 10 field goals and was 6 of 21 from 3-point range in his previous four games before his outburst on Wednesday.

“I’m proud of him,” Chargers coach Blaize Kimmell said. “He’s had some rough shooting games recently. He was sick last week, so I’m really happy that he was able to get that game going. He’d been a little down in the dumps just from not shooting it well.”

Neiderman’s first 3-pointer, which he made after Chargers junior guard Ethan Carlisle rebounded his own missed three, gave the Chargers a 16-15 lead with 4:33 left in the second quarter. Neiderman drained another triple two minutes later and hit three in the final 2:50 of the third quarter to help stretch the Chargers’ lead to 43-33 by the end of that stanza.

“He’s a shooter,” Kimmell said of Neiderman, who entered Wednesday’s game shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. “I don’t care how many threes he takes, they were the right shots and he was getting really good looks. Once he hit two or three in a row, I was kind of just sitting back hoping everything would fall into place, and it did.”

Robertson finished with 12 points, all of which came in the first three quarters. He also chased down two offensive rebounds — one in the second quarter shortly after Neiderman’s second triple and another midway through the fourth quarter — that led to 3-pointers. On the second of those rebounds, Robertson dove to save the ball from going out of bounds. One more pass led to an open three from Stephen Sparks on the right wing that extended the Chargers’ lead to 49-37 with 4:35 left.

“I didn’t think I would be able to get it,” Robertson said. “It was kind of crazy knowing that I stayed in bounds.”

Neiderman expected nothing less from Robertson.

“He’s a big hustler and does a lot for this team,” Neiderman said. “I’m not surprised that he was doing that. He’s a big energizer for this team.”

Combine that with the Chargers’ swarming defense, which has held half of their opponents to 40 or fewer points this season, led to a sixth straight victory.

“We’re ending the regular season strong,” Kimmell said. “I can’t be happier. You know, 22-8 is a pretty good record.”

The Chargers’ attention now turns to Pittsfield, which they will welcome to Carthage for a regional quarterfinal game on Monday.

“I know one thing, we got the No. 7 seed in our sub-sectional, and I don’t think the other teams overlook us,” Kimmell said. “I think we’re a really good team.”