Northmont Too Strong Underneath For Dayton Meadowdale

[SFIND]

By Bryant Billing

DAYTON- Most of the time, if you hit eight three-pointers in a game while the other team doesn't make one three-pointer at all, you win that game. You can tell that to the Meadowdale Lions, and they'll tell you your wrong. Northmont (21-2) was anchored underneath by 6'8 Andrew Parish (27 points) and 6'4 Davin Lewis (20 points). The two lead the Northmont Thunderbolts to a 73-65 victory over Meadowdale at the University of Dayton Arena, earning them a sectional championship.

The game was close from the beginning.

Northmont jumped out in front 13-6 early in the first quarter. However, the Lions closed out the first quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The game then went back and forth. Davin Lewis made a basket for the Thunderbolts with fourteen seconds left in the second to give Northmont a 34-32 lead at the end of the second quarter.

It was still close in the third quarter. Northmont had a 47-46 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter, but they made two quick baskets to take a 51-46 lead at the end of the third.

Northmont then carried that momentum over the fourth quarter.

Northmont slowly crept further and further away, and Meadowdale had to play catch-up. Jontay Farmer sank a three-pointer with 3:30 left to cut Northmont's lead to 59-56.

The game was continued to go back-and-forth, with Northmont out in front 65-62 with 1:24 left.

It was Northmont who sealed the deal.

The Thunderbolts went on a 8-0 run over the next minute to seal the victory. Northmont's last basket was a two-handed slam by Jerontea Hunter that brought the Northmont faithful to their feet. Jontay Farmer made a three-pointer at the buzzer from NBA range to make the final of 73-65.

A basketball game does not get much better than this.

Meadowdale stayed in this one due to their outside success. The Lions also got a lot of help from (6'1) Ryne Drakes, who was able to hold his own against a much taller Parish. Drakes finished with 20 points.

Northmont also got a big lift by outscoring the Lions 17-9 from the free-throw line, which is a big deal when the game is decided by 7 points. Northmont also executed an effective man-to-man defense, by committing only 12 fouls the entire game.

Meadowdale should be a threat next year in Dayton. The Lions return 4/5 starters, including Farmer and Drakes. Farmer has a great three-point shot, but can shoot too much. He did shoot too much against Northmont, and that hurt the Lions chances.

Northmont now moves on to play Cincinnati St. Xavier this Friday, February 29, at 6:00. The game is at the University of Dayton Arena.

Individual Scoring: Meadowdale- Jontay Farmer 17; Shawn Walton 6; Jeremy Williams 10; Ryne Drakes 20; Domonic Johnson 2; Darnell Houston 8; Dexter Robinson 2. Northmont- Brian Tolle 11; Logan Palsgrove 2; Steve Newell 4; Davin Lewis 20; Jerontea Hunter 8; Andrew Parish 27.