HAWKS RELYING ON TIGHT BOUND BETWEEN ONE ANOTHER AS 2025-26 MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON BEGINS

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College men's basketball team will hit their home court for the first time during their home opener on Monday, November 3 at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk against Concordia University JV.

Josh Clark is entering his third season as the head coach of the Hawks and has emphasized how his team needs to play as one to have a successful year.

"We talked about team chemistry," Clark said. "The bond that needs to happen for a team to come together throughout a season. It's a marathon. For us being a two-semester sport, we're together all the time and pushing each other all the time. Preseason is so long, and we are playing against each other for so many days. We have to keep that bond because when we go on the road, it's just us. We represent ourselves and the institution, and it's important to stay together."

So far this season, Clark has been thrilled with what he has seen from group at practice.

"The final week before games begin was a really good week of practice," Clark said. "We are preparing for the things that we do and what we are implementing this year. We have guys that can play all 94 feet for all 40 minutes, and we are really excited about that. We are going to be running some different things and working with our personnel has been super enjoyable. We are getting better every day, and I'm excited."

There are a few different goals that Clark and his team are chasing after this season.

"Off the floor, we want a 3.7 GPA," Clark said. "With the guys that we have, that's something that we can strive for. On the floor, we want to not lose at home. We need to take care of our home floor and protect the Cox Activities Center. If we protect our home floor, that will put us in a good spot."

The ICCAC is splitting their conference tournament up into two different brackets this year, and Clark views that change as a great opportunity for Northeast.

"With the conference split now in the postseason, we want to come out of either the A or B side of the conference tournament and be region champion," Clark said. "It's a tough conference and you don't want to get ahead of yourself because you don't know what the other teams are going to be, but if we come out every day and be as tough as we can be and play as hard as we can, we have the pieces to make it difficult on other teams to play our style."

The Hawks have two sophomores who are returning to the lineup in 2025-26, and Clark is looking for both of them to be leaders of his young group.

"Sunny Singh (Queens, N.Y. ) and Scottie Johnson (Denton, Texas) are two who are going to contribute for us in a number of different ways on the floor," Clark said. "They are staples from last year and had significant minutes last season. Sunny has grown as a player and as a person. We are going to rely on him as a point guard. Scottie brings athleticism and excitement to the game. He can change a game through his defense, and he has really improved his offense. Our sophomores know what the standard is and the standard has been set."

Northeast will have to rely on a group of 12 newcomers, 11 of which are freshman and Clark is excited with what he has seen from his set of student-athletes who are in the first year with the Hawks.

"Marcus Coombs (Blackfoot, Idaho) is athletic," Clark said. "He's been coached by his dad, who is a great coach in Idaho. Brothers Jack Kloth (Dell Rapids, S.D.) and Rhett Kloth (Dell Rapids, S.D.) have both come in and done well. They go against each other in practice and make each other better. Johanes Piscikas (Lakeville, Minn.) has been doing well, and Jonasz Piskorski (Sandomierz, Poland) has played hard-nosed defense. Lochie Harvey (Yarrawonga, Australia) plays a defense that some of these guys have never seen before, and he has played at a high level. All of our freshmen have contributed, and I'm excited to see them respond as the season goes along."

Overall, Clark loves how close his team is entering the season.

"These guys care about each other, and more than in just a basketball way," Clark said. "It can be tough to build those bonds in just two years, but these guys are playing for each other. We threw some different things out during both of our scrimmages, and they responded well. Our true test will be on Monday night against Concordia, and then we have a tough one against Southeast on Wednesday. Every night will be something different, but we feel like we have the guys who can compete at a high level."

On the bench, Asher Blum has joined Clark for his first year as an assistant coach with the Hawks and Clark has been delighted by how well the two have worked together.

"Asher has been really great," Clark said. "His knowledge of the game is at a high level. With his dad being a coach, him playing and having former coaching experience, he knows what it takes as a coach. He is someone who wants to be a head coach one day and I think he will do a great job for us. He has great stuff and gives great ideas and adjustments. The guys have enjoyed him, and it's been a seamless fit."

When it comes down to it at the end of the season, Clark has a few things in mind about what would make this season a successful one.

"I just want them to play hard," Clark said. "As hard as they possibly can every game. If we are in every game and we are playing hard, that's all I can ask for. If we can stay healthy and we can stay together, let's see what happens in late February and early March."

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