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GREENSBORO — Everyone knows you need a little luck this time of year, so when Stan Kowalewski's son found a four-leaf clover in the parking lot before last week's regional championship, there was no question it was going right into the pocket of Dad's sportcoat.

That jacket has become an iconic good luck charm for Northern Guilford, which will play for a state title Saturday, one year removed from the birth of the program.

A bright Nighthawks purple show-stopper that has drawn Kowalewski constant jabs from his college friends — "more Barney jokes than you can believe" — the jacket has been designated as the head coach's outfit of choice when a championship is on the line.

The jacket is 4-for-4 this season, and "I would be crucified if I didn't wear it Saturday," Kowalewski said. "Don't I get any credit?"

There's no reason to upset the Nighthawks faithful, who are salivating over the prospect of a state championship even as some of the paint still dries on the school. Despite not having a senior, Northern has won 20 straight games, all of them by double figures, including a convincing win over defending state champion Kinston in the last round.

"A lot of people doubted us, talked bad about us, said to give us about eight years," said junior forward and regional MVP Christian McCain.

"Now everyone's on our side -- 'we always believed in you!' It's funny hearing the same people. It bothered me a little bit, but look how we're playing now. You can't say much now, just sit back and laugh."

The Nighthawks have done plenty of that this week, forgoing practice Wednesday in favor of a team bowling trip to All-Star Lanes on Holden Road. The consensus: They should all stick to basketball.

"They're just young enough to not understand," Kowalewski said. "The TV cameras have been here all week, and all that's done is made them play a little harder. My assistant coaches have been joking that we should get someone from the A.V. department here all the time."

Plenty of people are watching. The Nighthawks have already been invited to seven national tournaments next season, more than they could physically or logistically accept. Their nonconference gauntlet this season, including a game against national power Oak Hill (Va.) and another as part of a tournament at Villanova, has erased any notion of deer in the headlights at this point of the schedule.

"We feel fortunate to be here," Kowalewski said, "and at the same time, we've got to enjoy the ride, too."

The Nighthawks clearly had the talent to contend, but "the maturation process had to accelerate," Kowalewski said. "We'd have two great days in practice and then took a day off. Now they know they've got to bring it every day."

There hasn't been much chance to fill the trophy case at Northern yet. One more win would provide a pretty good start to the collection.

"It means a lot to me," junior guard Jonathan Frye said. "I know everyone's going to remember this."

 Contact Tom Keller at 373-7034 or tom.keller@news-record.com