The Northridge Raiders survived some last-second attempted heroics by the Fairfield Falcons to win a 35-34 high school boys basketball decision Saturday night in Middlebury.
Fairfield had two good looks at the basket in the closing seconds.
“We have lost enough pretty games that it was time to win an ugly one,” Northridge coach Jason Ridge said. “We have been in so many games when we did not make plays over the last four minutes.
“We had not been finding ways to win. We just kept telling the kids to go out and play their best basketball.”
The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Raiders.
“Winning will relieve some pressure from the kids,” Ridge said. “We kept telling them if we kept putting forth very good efforts eventually something good was going to happen.”
Fairfield coach John Wysong said, “We had two very good looks at the basket. I thought I was going to have to call a timeout, because no one was looking to shoot. Then we took a shot.
“We feel good about the way the kids played, but not about the loss. This was a bitter defeat.”
Northridge (3-10) hosts Wawasee next Saturday and Fairfield (8-7) entertains Bremen the same night.
Before the game Northridge recognized former Falcon great Doug Brookins who passed away this week.
“His death has greatly impacted my life,” Wysong said. “To the point where I might be making some changes in things I do.
“Doug was a tremendous competitor and ballplayer. We played ball together since the 5th grade.”
Five-eight Raider senior Luke Davis had his right wrist taped up.
“He was knocked to the floor Friday night (at Plymouth),” Ridge said. “He came in today and had trouble bending his wrist. He said he was not in any pain.
“I thought he did an excellent job of handling the ball and running our offense.”
According to Ridge, the Raiders made a definite attempt to involve 6-0 junior Malcolm Thurmond more in the offense.
Thurmond netted 13 of his game-high 18 points in the first half as Northridge led 21-19 at intermission.
“Tonight’s focus was on getting Malcolm the ball,” Ridge said. “We are trying to make him our No. 1 scoring threat.
“He didn’t have a great night shooting the ball, but he is going to have to get used to someone chasing him all the time on the court.”
Wysong said, “Except for letting Thurmond get lose a couple of times our defense was pretty good.”
Six-foot junior Kolin Adams chipped in with six points, 5-10 sophomore Gavin Blyly four and Davis three.
Davis’ only basket of the game gave Northridge the lead for good at 27-26 with 2:29 left in the third period.
The Falcons had surged ahead 26-24 on a basket at 4:46 and a 3-pointer at 3:26 by 6-0 senior Miles Kritzman.
“That was a huge basket by Davis,” Ridge said.
Northridge took a 35-31 lead with :40 left to play on a pair of free throws by Thurmond, but the Falcons weren’t done yet and a ‘3’ by 6-2 junior Tanner Foust at :28 accounted for the final score.
Foust tossed in nine points to lead the Falcons, 6-4 senior Justin Scott and Kritzman added eight apiece.
Kritzman scored all seven of his team’s points in the third period as the Falcons trailed 27-26 entering the fourth.
“On offense we moved the ball better than we have been,” Wysong said. “I wish one of those shots at the end would have dropped. We could have used this win.”
Sports
Raider boys edge Falcons
- Sports
-
-
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS: Ex-Raider Troyer excels for Wesleyan
Senior Derrick Troyer (Northridge) poured in 21 points for the NAIA D-II No. 14 ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats in a 94-87 Mid-Central Conference win over the Bethel Pilots.
-
FROM THE SIDELINES: EN trip triggers hoop memories
Visiting the “Big Blue Pit” in Kendallville on Saturday for the Goshen-East Noble boys basketball game stirred up a multitude of memories.
-
OUTDOOR COLUMN: Replacing the new with the old
If the statement came from any other angler, I would have instantly dismissed it. But Russell Chatham is no ordinary fisherman. He knows whereof he speaks.
-
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Gridiron Knight
One of the most disruptive parts of Concord’s “Strike Force” defense over the past two high school football seasons — Jarrett Settles — has decided to take his football talents to Marian University in Indianapolis.
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Panthers roll
Using some of the best parts of their arsenal — superior size, quickness and speed — the NorthWood “Black Swish” jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in winning the program’s 22nd high school girls basketball sectional championship Saturday night in the Class 3A final at Wawasee.
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Heartbreak for Raiders
Oh, so close.
The Northridge girls basketball team was within sight of a Class 4 sectional championship Saturday night at Goshen High School. -
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Leafs drop a heartbreaker
Last time the Goshen College men’s basketball team faced MCC foe Spring Arbor University, the Maple Leafs had their worst offensive output of the 2011-12 season in a 60-48 loss on the road.
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: On to the finals
Northridge’s very young girls basketball team — a squad without a single senior — has the Raiders within one victory of the school’s first-ever sectional championship.
-
Panther-Charger final
The No. 3-ranked NorthWood “Black Swish” survived an upset bid by a determined group of Fairfield Falcons Friday night in the high school girls basketball Class 3A sectional at Wawasee.
-
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Kelly, Irish reshuffle coach lineup
When a football team falls short of its goals, changes are often made to the coaching staff.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches
Police: Houston Found Under Water, Unconscious
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury
Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
