Northmor picks up a gritty victory over Centerburg

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GALION — Northmor High School was an exciting place to be last week.

On Thursday, the girls basketball team was taken to overtime before eventually knocking off the Elgin Comets, 44-35. On Friday night, it was the boys team taking to their home floor to host the Centerburg Trojans.

Northmor would come away with a very convincing victory, 55-44 over the Trojans. While Northmor improves to 4-1 overall on the year and 2-0 in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Blue Division, Centerburg suffered it’s first loss on the year and is now 4-1 and 1-1 in the MOAC Blue.

The game between the Golden Knights and the Trojans featured four players that made all-conference teams last season. The Knights were represented by Tyler Kegley (first team), Demetrius Johnson (second team) and Brock Pletcher (honorable mention). Centerburg was represented by 6’8” standout Ross Ryan (second team). All four provided big contributions for their respective teams.

Demetrius Johnson, the smallest player on the Knights’ roster (5’8”) had the biggest impact in the game. His speed and awareness allowed him to single handedly break the Trojans’ full court press. ‘Meechie’, as he is affectionately known, scored 19 points in the Northmor victory and grabbed five boards for his squad before fouling out of the game in the fourth quarter. Brock Pletcher showed up big too, adding 13 points, including a uproarius dunk and six rebounds. Tyler Kegley, part of the 6’6” twins on the squad, chipped in 10 points and 11 boards. Rounding out the Golden Knights’ scoring was Alijah Keen with nine points and Zach Parrott with four.

Centerburg’s Ross Ryan would record a double-double for the Trojans with 19 points (only one dunk) and 14 rebounds.

Both teams would hit the glass to the tune of 33 rebounds apiece. Centerburg took good care of the ball and turned it over just seven times to Northmor’s 13. The game would come down to what matters most, shooting.

The Trojans shot decently from inside the arc on the night at 19/43 or 44% but the Knights were 14/24 or 58%. Free throw shooting and three point shooting would prove to be the biggest advantage, other than all-around size, that Northmor would have over Centerburg. The Knights were just 4/16 from three point land but far surpassed the Trojans at 0/14. At the free throw line, Northmor was an impressive 15/19. Centerburg shot just 13 free throws on the night and made just six.

“We’re playing really well and we’re playing very good team ball and exceptional defense,” Northmor head coach Zach Ruth simply states of his team’s performance.

Northmor will look to continue its impressive start to the season on Tuesday Dec.20, when the Galion Tigers will take a short road trip to match up with the Knights in non-conference play. The Golden Knights will then be on the road to Howard on Thursday Dec.22 to meet up for inner-conference play with the East Knox Bulldogs.

Centerburg was victorious in the junior varsity game by a score of 52-45 over Northmor.

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By Chad Clinger

[email protected]

 

Find Chad on Twitter @GalionSportsGuy

Reach Chad at 419-468-1117 x2048

 

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