Sports

Mustangs Basketball Sweeps Wildcats in Season Baseline Rivalry

Northville wins 53-47 over Novi in exciting match.

Submitted by Steve Patrone

Rivalry week lived up to it’s reputation as the Northville Mustangs (7-5 overall, 5-2 in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association) took on their crosstown baseline rivals Novi Wildcats (4-8 overall, 4-3 KLAA) at home on Friday. No matter what the KLAA standings are, this rivalry basketball battle always goes down to the wire.

The first quarter atmosphere was simply electric! The Northville stands were all decked out in support of the team's and the student body was 300+ strong ready to rock the house. The Mustangs lived up to the hype as they dominated the first quarter shooting 91% (10-11) from the floor.

The senior trio of Brett MacDonald (5-5), Jeff Gertley (3-3) and Andrew Poterala (1-1) took control of game from the start scoring 19 points. MacDonald drained the first points on a 10-ft jumper just inside the paint and also hit the first points from beyond the arc.

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As the senior trio was scoring at will, the defensive end of the court held the Wildcats to only four points in the quarter led by MacDonald with five rebounds, Poterala with three steals and junior Stewart Henzi swatting two huge blocked shots. With four seconds left, sophomore Andrew Meacham grabbed an offensive rebound with a put-back score for a 21-4 Mustang quarter lead.

The Wildcats regrouped in the second quarter and outscored the ‘Stangs 10-5. Northville went to the bench to support the fast-paced court play. Seniors Mitch Alameddine and Ryan O’Callaghan, along with Meacham and junior Jake Hansen kept the pressure on Novi with fresh legs. Alameddine grabbed rebounds on both ends of the court and assisted Henzi on a scoring jumpshot. The Wildcats cut the Mustangs lead at halftime 26-14.

Novi started launching numerous shots from beyond the arc to try to coral Northville’s scoring attack. The tides turned as Novi outscored Northville 18-10 but the Mustangs still held on for a 36-32 lead at the end of the third period.

MacDonald started the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer but Novi took the lead at the seven minute mark (39- 40) after an eight point scoring run. After Gertley converted on an And1 drive to the basket and Henzi’s two free throws, the Mustangs had a 44-44 tie with 3:06 left on the clock.

The senior guards took control of the game as Jeff Hewlett sunk both his bonus free throws with 52 seconds left in the game and put the Mustangs up by four points. Novi wouldn’t quit and cut the lead to just two points (49-47) with 16.5 seconds left. With 14.8 seconds left, Jeff Gertley converted both bonus free throws to seal the game and the win at 53-47. Novi tried another shot from the arc but MacDonald thwarted that idea with a blocked shot. MUSTANGS WIN!

Gertley led all scorers with 15 points, followed by MacDonald with 14 points and eight rebounds. Meacham had 9 points, Henzi had 7 points with three blocked shots, Hewlett had 6 points and two steals and Poterala had 2 points and five steals.

The Mustangs (6-2 KLAA, 8-5 overall) look to maintain their first place division lead as they travel to South Lyon (5-3 KLAA, 8-5 overall) next Tuesday. GO STANGS!

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