Northville Boys Basketball Wins First Game of Season

—Submitted by Bob Lasley

The 2012-13 Northville boys varsity basketball team opened their season at home Tuesday night with a thrilling 48-47 victory over Walled Lake Northern Knights.

Prior to the game, players and fans had a moment of silence for David Widzinski of Northville and Detroit Catholic Central High School, who passed away in his sleep earlier this week.

Both teams started slowly as nearly two minutes elapsed before the first basket of the game – a hard drive to the hoop by senior Alec Lasley at the 6:06 mark. The Mustangs jumped out to a 7-0 lead and maintained this working margin throughout the quarter with aggressive man-to-man defense which forced the Knights into numerous turnovers. The quarter ended with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the corner by junior Joe Hewlett for a 16-8 Northville lead.

Northville scored the first basket of the second quarter, before suffering through a prolonged scoring draught in which the Knights outscored them 17-0 to take a 25-18 lead. Senior Jake Hanson ended the run with a basket at approximately the 1 minute mark of the second quarter to send both teams to the locker room with Walled Lake Northern leading 25-20.

The Knights maintained their lead at 31-25 approximately 3 minutes into the third quarter before the Mustangs tied the score at 33 on a 3 pointer by junior Andrew Meacham. Senior Stewart Henzi then regained Northville’s first lead of the second half at 40-38 shortly thereafter with a basket following his strong offensive rebound. The Mustangs increased their lead to 40-33 before the third
quarter ended 40-35.

Walled Lake Northern scored the first 6 points of the fourth quarter to regain the lead at 41-40, the first of 8 lead changes in the final period. With 43.6 seconds remaining the Knights made two free throws to take the lead 47-46. On the Mustangs’ next possession Andrew Meacham drove into the lane, and after drawing the attention of the Knights defense, he dished the ball to Stewart Henzi for a layup and a 48-47 lead. The Mustangs’ tough defense prevented the Knights from getting off a good shot in the final seconds and Northville left the court victorious.

Andrew Meacham and Stewart Henzi led the Mustangs with 19 and 13 points, respectively. Six different Mustangs scored and the team made 83% of their free throws. The Mustangs next game is Tuesday, Dec. 11 at Walled Lake Central.