The New Trier boys basketball team saw its season end Mar. 4, as the Trevians fell 44-41 to the Giants of Highland Park.

After an ending that was different from the trio of close games that preceded it, the Trevians can look back on a wild season.

After starting the game on a 13-4 run, New Trier fell victim to the seemingly impenetrable zone defense of Highland Park, facing a 22-21 deficit at the halfway mark. Continuing their hot stretch in the second quarter, the Giants kept up their hot shooting while outscoring the Trevians 12-3 in the third quarter, and they increased their lead to 34-24 headed into the fourth quarter.

As they had done all season, the Trevians kept fighting and chipped away at Highland Park’s lead until they were on top by one point with just over three minutes left in the game. The two teams traded baskets offensively and matched each other’s stops on the defensive end, until senior Ryan Haak notched three of his game-high 16 points to cut the Highland Park lead to just one at 42-41.

The Giants’ Hallvard Lundevall, a senior, hit two clutch free throws with just over 11 seconds left in the game, bringing the Giants’ lead to 44-41. After a timeout near half-court to draw up one final play, a potential game-tying three bounced off the back iron, and the Trevians’ season was a wrap.

Assistant coach Terry Coughlin had high praise for the Giants’ unique defense.

“Highland Park plays a 1-2-2 zone and they play it extremely well,” he said. “It’s not something many teams play and as we scouted them heading into the playoffs we knew most teams took some time to get used to the style of play. Unfortunately for us we weren’t able to swing the pace of the game back in our favor until the 4th quarter, where we finally took the lead.”

While an early playoff exit is not something that this team had envisioned, the season was certainly a wild ride.

After starting 2-4 and getting blown out on its home floor against rival Evanston, New Trier was failing to perform at a level of which they were capable.

Senior guard and sharpshooter Patrick Kelley said it was due to a lack of identity for the new-look Trevians.

“I think we started out the season without an identity,” said Kelley. “We started 2-4 and it took a tough triple-overtime win over Maine South to really turn our season around. That was a really big game because it changed the trajectory of our season.”

The marathon game was certainly a turn around the corner for the Trevians. It proved to be a successful rebound just two nights after the Evanston disaster, as the Trevians won three of their next four games. They then hit a hot stretch during the month of January, winning eight of nine games.

The Maine South victory not only changed the season’s trajectory, but also provided the seniors with a positive way to look back on both the season and their careers, according to Kelley.

“I’d say my best memory was winning that game against Maine South to snap their 17-game conference win streak. Especially with the way our season started, winning that game felt like a huge weight lifted off our shoulders,” said Kelley.

Senior forward Andrew Hauser shared Kelley’s pride in the victory.

“Beating Maine South this year was a favorite for everyone, no doubt,” he said, branching off of Kelley. “But personally, I love going up to the ‘dog-pound’ in Waukegan. Their stadium is really unique, their fans are passionate, and, most notably, their pep band is unbelievable,” he stated.

Coughlin also had high praise for the season.

“Personally I look back on this season as a success. There are many coaches in the state that would do anything to have a 20-win season, let alone four in a row,” said Coughlin.

Losing ten seniors isn’t easy for any team, and this year’s squad is certainly no exception.

“If I had to name one thing we will miss about this group of seniors it is their ability to bring a team together,” said Coughlin, looking forward to next season. “Hopefully the juniors on the team remember how welcoming the environment was this season and will want to provide that same atmosphere next season.”

In terms of the X’s and O’s, Coughlin said the Trevians may have a new look next year.

“On a schematic level we will be much bigger next season. We [the coaches] have discussed moving to an offensive and defensive system that will allow us to feature multiple frontcourt players on the court at one time.”

This year’s team finished with a record of 20-10. Next season, the Trevians will have to replace ten seniors and look to the experience and leadership of starting guard Mikey Hurley, along with returning guard Tino Malnati, in hopes of accomplishing a remarkable fifth-straight season of 20 or more wins