Minerva 56 Northwest 53

[HoopHound]

by starkravingdad

Minerva outscored Northwest 17-10 in the final quarter to win the Friday night NBC game at Minerva.

In a close, but very unevenly played and officiated ballgame, both teams came out firing in the first. Matching each other hoop for hoop, Minerva and Northwest played some very good ball the first quarter. Only one or two fouls were called and the Lions clung to a 22-21 lead after one.

Then, the referees woke up and got involved in the game. Fouls piled up for both sides, neither team could find its rhythm, and the flow and fire of the first quarter was lost. Turnovers and missed lay-ups by both teams made scoring a rare event in the second quarter. Minerva held a 29-27 lead at the break.

Northwest came back out after the half and wrestled the lead from the Lions. Tyler Krzynowek and Jim Shiplett heated up and the Indian defense was able to force the Lions into some tough shots. NW grabbed a 4 point lead after 3 quarters.

However, the Lions won the 4th with good passing, good defense and NW's inabilty to close the lane. The previously hyperactine referees swallowed their whistles for the last two minutes of the game, and Minerva made the plays down the stretch. Josh Fick led Minerva with 17 points and Andrew Lairson added 14. Krzynowek took game-high honors with 27 points, while Shiplett added nine points and five boards.