Northville Boys Basketball Team Beats Rival Novi

- Submitted by S. Patrone

The boys varsity basketball team traveled across town to meet its baseline rival, the Novi Wildcats, in a game that would be measured by turnovers.

The Mustangs came into the game last Friday tied for third place in the Central Division Kensington Lakes Activities Association (KLAA), with a 1-1 record. The Wildcats were defending a perfect 2-0 record.

The Northville-Novi rivalry has always generated an electric atmosphere and this game was no different. The ‘Stangs were on fire from the opening tip-off allowing Novi to only score three points in the first quarter. Senior guard Jeff Gertley and junior guard Nick Raad penetrated the Novi defense and dished off to Andrew Meacham for a quick six points in the paint. Jeff Hewlett finished the quarter with a 5-foot jumper with seven seconds left to give the Mustangs a 12-3 quarter lead.

Northville and Novi saw more defensive pressure in the second quarter. Both teams suffered double-figure turnovers and minimal scoring opportunities. Senior forward Mitch Alameddine sparked the team off the bench with an offensive rebound and a defensive charge. The Mustangs kept their lead going into halftime at 16-13.

The third quarter was no different regarding the Mustang’s offense as nothing was dropping in. Novi outscored Northville 5-10 in the quarter and took the third quarter lead, 21-23.

The Mustangs needed to secure their ball control in the fourth quarter in order to win the game. The defense stepped up again only allowing the Wildcats to just four points in the fourth quarter as the ‘Stangs dropped in ten. It was Hewlett who put the Mustangs ahead by two points with two minutes left on the clock. Gertley then secured the win as he drained both his 1-in-1 bonus free throws to put the Mustangs up by four points with nine seconds left in the game.

The Mustangs won, 31-27, and moved into second place in the KLAA Central Division. Gertley led all Mustangs with 11 points with 5-for-6 from
the charity stripe. Meacham had 7 points, followed by Hewlett 6 points and MacDonald with 5 points.