By Greg Keim
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.”
