Advertisement

'A nice honor': Worcester Historical Museum to display items from two-time state basketball champion North High

rich garven, worcester telegram & gazette
·4 min read
The North High School basketball team presented a signed ball and a game-worn jersey to the Worcester Historical Museum Wednesday.
The North High School basketball team presented a signed ball and a game-worn jersey to the Worcester Historical Museum Wednesday.

WORCESTER — The North High boys’ basketball team made history each of the past two seasons.

The Polar Bears became the first Worcester Public Schools team to win a Division 1 state championship last year and the first boys’ basketball team from Central Mass. to win back-to-back state titles last month.

That led the Worcester Historical Museum to reach out to coach Al Pettway requesting a permanent donation of memorabilia to be displayed downtown at 30 Elm St.

Live spring high school schedule, results, line scores and recaps

“We knew they had won last year, and it was like, ‘Oh, back-to-back wins,’ ” WHM exhibits coordinator Vanessa Bumpus said Wednesday afternoon. “They deserved to be in the collection. They’re making history in Worcester.

“We want them to sit aside John Hancock’s trunk and the phone that the first phone call in Worcester was made on. Those are all here in our collection, and their story is just as important, and we thought it was important that they be represented here.”

Coach Al Pettway, assistant Pat Wetherbee, eight players, and principal Sam FanFan were on hand to present a No. 2 game jersey — the deuce representing two titles — a signed basketball and a back-to-back championship T-shirt to Bumpus and associate executive director Carol Ward.

The North High School basketball team, with coaches and staff, presented a signed ball and a game-worn jersey to the Worcester Historical Museum Wednesday.
The North High School basketball team, with coaches and staff, presented a signed ball and a game-worn jersey to the Worcester Historical Museum Wednesday.

A pair of replica state trophies will also be part of the display in the Rice Gallery on the main floor of the building the Worcester Historical Museum has called home for five decades. The exhibit is expected to be up by next week.

“I think it’s a nice honor,” Pettway said.” It’s going in the historical museum forever, so that’s pretty cool.”

The Polar Bears, who dedicated their season to the late Carl-Hens Beliard, the lone senior on the 2023 championship team, staged a dramatic, second-half rally to defend their state title with a 59-53 win over Franklin on March 17 at the Tsongas Center in Lowell.

It was the 45th consecutive win — 11 short of tying the state record set by Durfee from 1988 to ’91 — for the Polar Bears, who finished 24-0 to elevate their two-year record to 48-2.

More than the sustained success, it was the bond the players, coaches and support staff developed during their recent title run that senior Jaydon Sarkodie will remember most about this group.

North High School basketball player Nalajah Christopher takes his turn signing a ball at the Worcester Historical Museum Wednesday.
North High School basketball player Nalajah Christopher takes his turn signing a ball at the Worcester Historical Museum Wednesday.

“Just that we’re a family,” Sarkodie said. “Since before the season, once we got the news that we lost our brother, it was just different. I think that brought us together even more, and we won it.

“So staying together the whole way, we made history. Now we’re in the historical museum, and we can come back in 20 years and see ourselves here. It’s home.”

The Polar Bears were honored with a rolling rally that ended with a celebration behind City Hall on March 30 and three days later were again part of the Opening Day festivities for the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park.

On Thursday morning, they’ll make a return trip to the State House. They’ll be the guests of El Basha at 256 Park Ave. for a team dinner April 24.

In addition to Pettway & Co., the Polar Bears were also represented at the Worcester Historical Society by team sponsors Robert Rios, owner of Phoenix Marketing and Advertising, and Edward and Charran Fisher, owners of Fisher Contracting.

Worcester Housing Authority executive director Alex Corrales and Renaissance Medical Group CEO Jesus David Suarez, both of whom also have lent their support to the team, sent their regrets as they were unable to attend.

The Polar Bears are one of three Central Mass. teams thus far during 2023-24 school year to finish undefeated. The Uxbridge and West Boylston football teams both went 13-0 while winning the Division 7 and 8 Super Bowls, respectively. It was the second consecutive state title for the Lions.

In addition, the Uxbridge field hockey and St. John’s golf teams only lost one contest while winning state titles. It was the third consecutive crown for the Spartans while the Pioneers topped the leaderboard for the first time since 2012.

The Worcester Historical Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (with hours extended to 8:30 p.m. every fourth Thursday). Admission ranges from free to $5 per person.

—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: North High basketball presents memorabilia to Worcester Historical Museum