Fredericktown (12-5, 9-2) and Northmor (14-5, 10-2) have both been on a roll in the second half of this season, with Northmor leading the KMAC and the Freddies at number two. This time the Freddies came out on top 63-57, making it seven straight wins and putting a stop to Northmor’s seven game streak.
“Keys to victory, I think, was the energy and discipline we defended with early that allowed us to set the tone,” Fredericktown Coach Derek Dibling said. “Guys knew their assignment and what we needed each of them to do to find success. The crowd and student section were rocking and I really think our guys fed off the energy. Guys did a great job in transition early and handled the adversity down the stretch when things got tight.”
Fredericktown was on fire to start the game, going on an 8-1 run highlighted by a three for Trevor Bellman with about 5:30 on the clock. On the next Northmor possession, Jax Wenger made it a four point game when he drilled a three from the top of the arc. Gavin Toombs then hopped on a loose ball for a steal and took it to the basket for an acrobatic layup to make it a 13-5 game. At the end of one quarter, Fredericktown had a 17-9 lead.
In the second quarter, AJ Bower sank a three to cut the Fredericktown lead to 19-12. The Freddies were up 21-13 when Brode Davis hit a three to go up by 11 with 4:50 left. Bower nailed another shot from downtown to make it a 26-18 game in favor of the Freddies with 3:18 left in the half. Bower struck again with a steal off an inbound pass that he took to the hole for a bucket, making it a 28-20 game. With less than two minutes left, Toombs charged downcourt for a fast break basket to put the Freddies up 32-21. With 20 seconds left in the half, Toombs made a three to go up 37-23. Fredericktown outscored Northmor 22-14 in the second quarter and it was a commanding 39-23 lead at the half.
Northmor woke up in the third quarter by outscoring Fredericktown 18-9. Bower hit a three to cut the lead to 41-30 Drew Hammond was big on defense in the quarter for the Golden Knights with a pair of key blocks. At the end of three it was a 48-41 lead for Fredericktown.
Northmor finished with a 16-15 fourth quarter advantage, but it wasn’t enough for the Golden Knights to make a comeback, and Fredericktown held on for the win.
The Freddies shot 45.5% and held Northmor to 33.3%. Fredericktown was 4-for-12 from downtown and Northmor went 5-for-27. The Freddies led 40-31 in boards and 15-11 in assists, while Northmor had a 4-3 lead in steals and blocks.
Toombs was the top scorer with a game high 19 points. He also tallied six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Blake Sipes had 15 points, six rebounds and two steals. Carson Rinehart had 12 points, five boards, four assists and three blocks. Davis scored nine points and also had five rebounds and two assists. Bellman had six points, six assists and five rebounds. Will Streby rounded out the scoring with two points off the bench.
“We had a really balanced attack led by Gavin Toombs and Blake Sipes,” Dibling said. “Carson Rinehart had a great night attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line. Defensively Blake Sipes and Brode Davis did a great job slowing down what is one of the best one-two punches we've seen this year in Wenger and Bentley.”
Leading the Golden Knights was Wenger with 18 points, six assists, two rebounds and a steal. Bentley had 15 points, nine rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Bower also got into double figures with 12 points that included three from downtown. He also had an assist and a steal. Hunter Fulk put up seven points, three boards and two assists. Hammond tallied four points, five rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Isaac Black had a point, and also recorded three boards and an assist.
