It was Senior Night for the Northmor boys’ basketball team (16-5, 10-2), and the team got contributions from all of their seniors, led by Grant Bentley’s 24 points in a 71-44 win over Loudonville (6-15, 2-7) on Feb. 15.
Senior Hunter Fulk started off the game strong, stealing the ball and taking it to the hoop to go up 2-0. Later in the quarter, Logan Caudill blocked a shot and on their next possession nailed a three to go up 18-6 with 1:45 left.
Northmor had a commanding 20-9 lead after one quarter, and kept the momentum going in the second to take a 39-16 lead at the half.
In the third quarter Bryson Keirns sank a three to put Northmor up 42-16. Senior Grant Bentley scored on a fast break layup to put Northmor up 47-19, and then Trevor Black added a three to go up 57-29 later in the third. Northmor outscored the Redbirds 18-13 in the third quarter.
Trevor Black nailed another three in the fourth quarter to go up 65-40, and then Bentley sank a shot from deep to make it a 68-42 lead. While Loudonville finished strong with a 15-14 fourth quarter, the damage had already been done.
Bentley had 24 points, four rebounds, two steals and a block. Bryson Keirns had 11 points, seven boards and a steal, while Fulk put up 10 points, two boards, three assists and three steals. Other seniors who contributed were Drew Hammond with five points, Isaac Black with five points and Logan Caudill with three points
“It was a great game to recognize our seniors,” said Coach Blade Tackett. “Our starters of Caudill, Fulk, Keirns, Hammond, and Black got us off to a great start scoring 18 in the first. Their pressure and ability to score off steals was impressive. The rest of the night we did our best to mix the seniors with their teammates. Overall a fun night.”
For Loudonville, Dylan Hammitt had 19 points, a rebound and a steal to lead the way.
Northmor shot 45% and held Loudonville to 38%. Both teams had 31 boards, but Northmor led 14-9 in assists, 13-2 in steals and 3-0 in blocks.
Tackett said the senior group of Golden Knights is one that will be “sorely missed,” but he added that their impact on the program will be felt for years.
“This is a special group of young men who have established a high bar of excellence in our program,” Tackett said.
