Panthers nip Raiders in OT

Sports

January 15, 2010

By Stu Swartz The Goshen News Fri Jan 15, 2010, 11:17 PM EST

Scoring first in overtime Friday night proved decisive for NorthWood.

The Panthers, after dodging a bullet at the end of regulation, regrouped in the four extra minutes to score a 45-38 victory over the Northridge Raiders.

It was a typical thriller between the Northern Lakes Conference and Elkhart County high school boys basketball rivals who were meeting for the 73rd time.

Michael Paul, 5-9 junior, hit a baseline 12-footer 27 seconds into overtime to give NorthWood the lead for good.

Then it was a matter of free throws with 6-4 junior Cameron Williams, 5-11 junior Kyle Heckaman and Paul each hitting two in the final 2:47. Williams also added a close-range bucket.

Northridge had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, keeping the ball for the final 1:27 of the fourth quarter, but a 3-point shot at the end was off the mark.

NorthWood coach Aaron Wolfe said, “It was a highly-contested game as usual with Northridge. We got a stop at the end of regulation and then scored first in overtime. Those were the two biggest possessions of the game.

“We finally hit some free throws and we are a team capable of doing that. Once you start making a few, the confidence grows.

“Cameron Williams continues to improve for us and he did a great job finishing around the basket.

“I have a lot of respect for Coach (Jason) Ridge and Northridge. They are typically a tough opponent and anytime you can get a win in the NLC, it is a quality one.

“Our emphasis is not necessarily on the record right now, but continuing to improve every day.”

Ridge said, “We played with some toughness that I have been looking for. We just weren’t able to make some shots when we needed them at the end of regulation or in overtime.

“We weren’t necessarily holding the ball for the final 1:27 of regulation, but were looking to either get fouled or go to the basket. The strategy worked, but the shot didn’t go.

“Williams was very tough for us to defend around the basket and Paul is also a very good player. NorthWood is a better team than its record shows.

“The game got away from us in overtime. We are not a team that can come from behind too much.”

Williams had 15 points and nine rebounds for NorthWood, Paul 13 points and five boards. Kyle Heckaman, 5-11 junior, chipped in with eight points.

Malcolm Thurmond, 6-0 junior, led the Raiders with 10 points and 5-8 junior Luke Davis added eight.

Northridge got off to a poor start, the Panthers vaulting to an 8-1 lead in the first 4:34. Heckaman hit a 3-pointer during that run and the Panthers led 9-6 at the first stop.

The second quarter was nearly a stalemate, Northridge actually taking leads of 16-14 and 18-15 in the period as Thurmond hit a 3-pointer.

Aaron Rhoade, 6-2 junior, converted a three-point play off a drive to the bucket, Heckaman hit a ‘3’ from the top of the circle and 5-11 senior John Sittler made a free throw to put the Panthers up 22-18 at halftime.

Both Thurmond and Davis scored five points in the third quarter as the Raiders outscored the Panthers, 13-8, for a 31-30 lead.

Two free throws by 6-3 Northridge senior Justin Yoder with 3:57 on the clock were the last points of regulation.

Text Only

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.

February 13, 2012 4 Photos
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.

February 13, 2012 1 Photo
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.

February 13, 2012 1 Photo
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.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
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.

February 12, 2012 2 Photos
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.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
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.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
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.

February 11, 2012 2 Photos
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.

February 11, 2012 2 Photos
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Kelly, Irish reshuffle coach lineup
When a football team falls short of its goals, changes are often made to the coaching staff.

February 11, 2012 1 Photo
More Sports Headlines

The Goshen Housing Authority has a $571,050 shortfall. Should the Goshen City Council use money from its $4.7-million “rainy day” fund to pay the debt and maintain the current level of service provided by the voucher program?

Sports

Search Results

Panthers nip Raiders in OT

The Goshen Housing Authority has a $571,050 shortfall. Should the Goshen City Council use money from its $4.7-million “rainy day” fund to pay the debt and maintain the current level of service provided by the voucher program?

Site Map