“This was very big for us,” Northmont senior Jason Biggs said after pouring in 21 points in the T-Bolts’ 55-44 win over the Elks at home. “We wanted some respect and tonight I think we showed that we deserved some.”
The result may have given Northmont the respect it was looking for, but the beginning tested the team’s poise.
Northmont, which improved to 8-5 overall, 3-1 in the GWOC Centeral, had to erase a 10-point first-quarter lead before seizing control.
“I don’t think most people believed enough in us,” Abels said. “But we stuck with what we wanted to do and it paid off. I have to give all the kudos to the kids for their effort.”
Centerville jumped to a 11-1 lead in the first quarter behind nine straight points by Donny Shelton and held the T-Bolts without a field goal until 2:02 remained in the opening quarter.
“I think our biggest problem was that run because we got comfortable and relaxed,” Centerville coach Brook Cupps said after his team fell to 7-5 and 3-1. “We just never got our feet back under us until the fourth quarter.”
Northmont, however, got hot behind seven points from Christian Wilson to turn a 14-5 deficit into a 16-16 tie with 2:30 remaining on a lay-in off a turnover by Biggs. Jabari Perkins drained a 3-pointer with two ticks left and Northmont went into the break up 19-16.
“You have to give our kids tons of credit,” Abels said. “They showed poise under pressure. Adversity can either strengthen you or weaken you and tonight it strengthened them and they never went away from the game plan.”
Northmont pushed the lead to 33-24 with :48 left in the third quarter on a 3 by Biggs and Centerville was never able to get closer than 39-33.
Sam Lash finished with 14 for Centerville while Shelton led the Elks with 17.
Centerville doesn’t have long to recover, facing Miller Grove of Georgia in Flyin’ to the Hoop on Monday at Trent Arena.
“We have been trying to get some consistency,” Cupps said. “Obviously tonight we didn’t have that and we have to figure it out. If we play like that Monday, we’re going to get beat by 50.”
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