NEENAH — After Friday’s win over Oshkosh West in the first round of postseason play, the Neenah Rockets are on a roll. After a loss in early December, the team has now won 22-straight games.
Now the number one seed in Division One is ready to see where this team can go to end the season.
“We’re very excited. It’s one and done. It's March and the best time of the year,.” said Neenah senior guard Chevalier Emery Jr., who is averaging a team-high 18 points per game.
Two years ago the Rockets were one game away from the Kohl Center, but then the pandemic hit. Last year, they were put in the same bracket as Kimberly and lost to the Papermakers who went on to be in the state title game.
“The last two years have ended in bad ways for us in ways we didn’t want it to end,” said Rockets head coach Lee Rabas. "Two years ago we didn’t have any control over it. We didn't have any control over how it was set up last year. You just got to go out everyday and give it your best effort and hopefully, it’s good enough.”
This year the team is different than in the last two years. Their team is older, wiser and on the same page. They've won 22 games in a row.
“It's pretty rare to have five seniors and have all of them be significant contributors,” said Rabas. "Typically, you always have one or two kids who are always more role players. We have more size than we’ve had in years past. Those are the things that are different. We have more experience."
For the Rockets leading scorer, Emery jr., reaching the Kohl Center is something he has dreamed about since an early age. Now, he’s trying to lead his team there in his last season. The senior is headed to play NCAA Division One basketball for the Merrimack Warriors in Massachusetts.
"Going to state tournaments since I was a young kid, seeing other teams that I know – other players that I know. great players that have made their names there. Hopefully, I can put my name up there too," he said.
The players know that Madison and a possible state title is within their grasp, but no matter what happens they want to soak in this last run together.
“I feel like everyone should always just try to enjoy it and just work on the same things every day that you’re going to work on in games. Just make sure you’re ready for every moment,” said the second leading scorer on the team, senior forward Carter Thomas.
Neenah plays Appleton North on Saturday night at home in their second regional matchup.
