Hononegah Clinches Outright NIC‑10 Championship With 52–23 Win Over Boylan

Hononegah’s march through the NIC‑10 has always been built on consistency, toughness, and a senior class that understands what it means to carry a program’s expectations. On Tuesday night on the campus of Boylan, all of those traits were on display again as the Indians overpowered Boylan 52‑23 to secure the outright 2025‑2026 NIC‑10 championship. The win pushed Hononegah to 23‑7 overall and 16‑1 in league play, extending a conference run that has become one of the area’s defining streaks.

The victory also added another chapter to the careers of seniors Jordan Dimke and Kylie Simpson, the steady anchors of a team that has grown sharper as the season has progressed. Dimke, in particular, reached a milestone that speaks to both longevity and impact: she has now been part of 100 Hononegah victories, the most this reporter can find in any four‑year span in program history. Her conference mark—67 league wins—is just as staggering, a testament to how rarely Hononegah has slipped in NIC‑10 play during her tenure.

Hononegah hasn’t lost a conference game since December 12, when Freeport handed the Indians a 64‑50 setback. That night feels distant now. Since then, Hononegah has tightened its rotations, sharpened its defensive identity, and leaned on its seniors to guide a roster that mixes experience with emerging contributors. The result has been a stretch of basketball defined by discipline and control, the kind of play that travels well into February.

Against Boylan, the Indians set the tone after some early miscues. Their defensive pressure forced the Titans into rushed possessions, and Hononegah’s ability to turn stops into transition points created separation before halftime. The second half became an exercise in composure—limiting mistakes, managing the clock, and letting the seniors dictate tempo. Simpson’s leadership in the half‑court and Dimke’s presence on both ends ensured there would be no late‑game drama.

Coach Jason Brunke, who has guided the program with a steady hand, praised his team’s maturity after the win. The Indians have been here before—this marks their sixth straight NIC‑10 title—but Brunke has made it clear that each championship stands on its own. This one, he noted, reflects a group that embraced the grind of a long season and refused to let setbacks define them.

Hononegah will close out the regular season on Friday night, February 13, with a 7:15 p.m. tip at home against Rockford Auburn. The matchup offers a final tune‑up before the postseason begins, but it also gives the seniors one more chance to play in front of a home crowd that has watched them grow from promising underclassmen into the backbone of a championship program.

The postseason path begins Monday, February 16, in Hampshire, where the Indians will face the winner of Rockford Jefferson and Carpentersville (Dundee‑Crown) at 6 p.m. Hononegah will enter the regional as a favorite, but Brunke has long emphasized that playoff basketball demands a reset—new stakes, new opponents, and no room for complacency.

Still, nights like this one matter. They remind the community of what sustained excellence looks like. They highlight seniors who have left a mark that will be measured not just in wins, but in the standard they set. And they reinforce that Hononegah basketball, once again, is heading into February with momentum, confidence, and a championship banner already secured.

Congratulations to the Hononegah Indians, the 2025‑2026 NIC‑10 champions.

Thank you Coach Jason Brunke and seniors Jordan Dimke and Kylie Simpson for your time to discuss this wonderful season and game.