JOHNSTOWN — Six 3-pointers and a strong defensive effort vaulted the Northridge Vikings over visiting Gilead Christian, 56-37 in area basketball action on Friday night.
The Vikings were actually trailing in the game, 10-9, after the first quarter. Eagles center Garrison Hinkle dropped in six of his game-leading 14 points with three buckets in the first quarter, leading the early attack.
Northridge forwards Brett VanDervort (11 points) and Barry Roth (eight points and two 3-pointers) got the Vikings going after a slow first quarter. The duo hung all 15 Viking points on the board in the second, giving them a 24-19 lead at the half. Most importantly, they got the Vikings offense back in sync again.
“Our guys came out with a lot of energy,” said Northridge coach John Wheeler, who was making his coaching debut. “Maybe we had too much. We were a little nervous and a little jittery, but they settled down. Brett can create plays on his own and Barry can hit open 3s. Those guys stepped up when we were struggling. We have a few guys who can step up and do that. Alex Scott hit a couple of big 3s. That gets us out of situation where we’re struggling and back into the game.”
In the second half, the defense kicked in for the Vikings as they held the Eagles to five third-quarter points. The Eagles only had a pair of field goals.
“What we talked about at halftime was to come out with more intensity and more communication,” said Wheeler. “The guys went out and did a good job of that.”
Northridge guard Justin Dague, who led the Vikings with 13 points, got 11 points in the second half. Also, Northridge was working it into the post and getting the ball inside to its 6-foot-5 center, Ryan King (six points, seven rebounds, three blocks). King hit three field goals in the third. Dague added an assist, a steal and a layup to cap off the third quarter and give a decided advantage to the Vikings, 40-24.
“When Ryan is open down there he’s a very skilled big man,” said Wheeler. “When we can get it down there, there’s a lot we can create. The other team has to drop down and help on him. If they don’t, he can score and, if not, he can get a shot for somebody else.”
King also contributed some offensive rebounds and a pair of assists, neutralizing the Eagles’ Hinkle.
In the fourth quarter, Northridge guard Derek Hull (eight points) got a steal and a pair of baskets. Dague, meanwhile, added four field goals, including a 3-pointer, to help the Vikings pull away en route to a 56-37 win.
Northridge is back in action on Tuesday, traveling to Danville to begin Mid-Buckeye Conference play. Junior varsity tips off at 6 p.m.
