By Stu Swartz
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.
