Mount Vernon News

JOHNSTOWN — It was a low-scoring affair that stretched over seven quarters of play, but the Northridge High School basketball team defeated Millersport in triple overtime, 47-43. It was a win, that according to Northridge head coach Brent Cahill, couldn’t have been won without his team sticking together.

“I talked to them preseason that we’ve got to have a total team effort and, individually, we are not as good as most teams. But as a team, as we focus in out there, together we can do some things. I thought down the stretch we really made some crucial plays offensively and we finally got some defensive rebounds,” said Cahill.

The game got off to a slow start, with a score of 15-13, Millersport, going into halftime. The Vikings only scored one bucket the entire second quarter and faced the same fate in the third quarter. The biggest lead for either team came during the first quarter when the Lakers trailed by four points.

“The two things that killed us the whole game were us turning the ball over and giving up the offensive rebounds. We’re bigger in all the positions, but we weren’t boxing out and they were wanting the ball more than we were,” said Cahill.

With 35 seconds left in regulation, Chance Harlow of Millersport sank a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 29. Harlow stepped up big for the Lakers, shooting 3-of-4 from behind the arc, 10-of-14 in free throws, and ended the evening with a total of 25 points.

“They are crushed, but I’ll tell you this much: we went into three overtimes with a team that beat us 70-29 last year. I’m extremely satisfied with our effort — I’m not satisfied with the outcome, but the kids played extremely hard and I’m extremely proud,” said Millersport head coach Brett Prince.

Four seconds were left on the clock when Laker Alex Hopkins drove to the basket and was fouled on his way up by Avery Brooks. The shot was good, and Hopkins was sent to the line with no time left on the clock. He banked in his free throw to send the game into its first overtime.

“I’ve said since the beginning of the year that if we have a chance to win, it’s going to be a low scoring game and we’d have to play excellent defense. I thought tonight we played excellent defense and I’ve never been a part of something like that with so many quarters and such a low scoring game back and forth. Usually someone finishes the deal, but it was just back and forth. I’m kind of at a loss for words,” said Prince.

The first overtime was uneventful, with each team only putting two points on the board. With three seconds left to go, Harlow drove to the basket and his jumper bounced out. Harlow grabbed two more rebounds for two last-effort shots, but had no luck. A score tied at 34 landed the game in its second overtime.

During overtime No. 2, it seemed the Lakers had everything under control with a three-point lead and only 17 seconds left to play. A last second launch by Northridge’s Sam Steinmetz from way beyond the arc was good to send the game into the third overtime.

“I think it comes down to them throwing up a 25-footer and us not being able to close the deal. They set a nice screen for the kid and he made a bomb. It was a nice shot,” said Prince.

“We ran a play where we cross screen for our big guy and double screen down for our shooter and we haven’t even put that play in yet. We are so far behind in our scheme. I said, ‘If you are open, shoot it,’ So he got it and hit that long-range jump shot. He was deep. He was 4 or 5 feet behind the arc and he knocked it in,” said Cahill.

The Vikings finally pulled off the victory in the third overtime, gaining momentum from Justin Shaw, who three minutes in made a big steal for a breakaway layup.

“The crowd and the adrenaline was amazing, and our student section. Our guys made some big plays down the stretch and that is what kept us going.

“We wanted to win. Coach kept us in the game and Justin Shaw motivated us to keep going we didn’t want to lose,” said Viking Palmer Smith.

Northridge starts Mid-Buckeye Conference competition on Tuesday, hosting Fredericktown. Junior varsity tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

“I think with an inexperienced team, which we are especially at the perimeter positions, that winning gives you confidence. It doesn’t really matter how you win, just the fact that you come out on top. It gives your guys a little more confidence and they know without me saying anything that we are going to need a better effort next week against our league teams to compete,” said Cahill.