Gould, Simfukwe Lead Tigers To NLC Victory Over Northridge
January 8, 2022 at 5:08 a.m.
Gould, Simfukwe Lead Tigers To NLC Victory Over Northridge
By Anthony Anderson-
With Gould (28) and Simfukwe (19) combining for 47 points, the Tigers led from start to finish of a 61-47 Northern Lakes Conference boys basketball road win over Northridge on Friday night at the Middlebury Madhouse.
“I think a lot of people see points and that’s how they evaluate him,” Moore said of Gould.
In fairness, over the game’s first 100 seconds, it was virtually impossible to see much of anything else. Gould flooded the basket with 10 points in that initial 1:40, including a pair of 3-pointers, while staking Warsaw to a blink-quick 10-2 lead.
But he also added 13 rebounds and three steals on the night as the Tigers (7-3, 2-0) won for the fifth time in their last six games. Gould hit 10-of-15 field goals, including a trio of treys, and 5-of-6 at the line.
“You see the points,” Moore said of Gould, “but it’s also the rebounds, the defensive effort, the steals, the way he talks out there. He commands so much attention. He’s a really good player, and we go as he goes in many ways. I’m proud of how he’s grown from the first of the season to now, and it’s a big reason we’re winning games.”
So is Simfukwe, whose 19 points came on 5-of-9 from the field and 8-of-8 at the line to go with a team-high three assists.
“I think people are missing the boat on Judah,” Moore said in reference to small-college coaches. “He’s a hooper, and a guy that shoots a high percentage (standing over 60% from the field for the second straight year). He’s just a load. He can guard, rebound, play on the ball, play off the ball. I think there’s a lot of people that should consider taking a flyer on him. He’s kind of an old-school, throwback guy, a mid-range guy, but he’s very productive in what he does.”
Gould (12) and Simfukwe (seven) combined for all but one of Warsaw’s first-quarter points as the Tigers jumped to a 20-11 lead.
In the second period, the visitors labored against the hawking of the Raiders (3-7, 0-2), committing seven of their 18 turnovers on the night, but amped up their own defense as well and still extended their lead to 30-17 at the half.
Warsaw stretched the spread to as much as 19 in the third quarter, and never allowed the hosts closer than 10 in the fourth, that at 36 seconds to go.
“We were able to be physical and apply pressure and force them into one-and-done,” Moore said. “We were able to rebound well and keep them from setting up their full-court pressure.”
For the evening, the Tigers won the board battle 35-21.
They also shot 20-of-37 from the field, including 5-of-13 outside the arc, and 16-of-18 at the line. They limited Northridge to 17-of-56 from the field, including 7-of-26 from distance, and eight free throws, with the Raiders making six.
“There’s some things, like obviously the turnovers, we can hone in on to improve,” Moore said, “but I like where our group’s at right now. They believe in the process and it’s been fun to coach them. I like how we’re guarding, and we tweaked some things four or five games ago to space the floor a little better offensively.”
Drew Heckaman scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds for Warsaw, while Ross Winchester hauled in seven rebounds.
Micah Hochstetler paced the Raiders with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Blake Jacobs added 11 points and five boards.
The game launched a stretch in which the Tigers will play 10 of their final 14 regular-season contests on the road.
That travel show continues Tuesday against a familiar face when Warsaw visits 4A No. 5-ranked Penn and coach Al Rhodes, who crafted the majority of his Hall of Fame career with the Tigers.
The Kingsmen, a potential Elkhart Sectional opponent featuring standout guards Markus Burton and Joe Smith, are 8-0 heading into their visit to 4A No. 9 Valparaiso on Saturday.
In Friday’s junior varsity matchup, Northridge held off Warsaw 41-38.
Freshman Mason Bales scored 17 points to lead all scorers for the JV Raiders (5-2, 1-1). Sophomore Luke Yeager and freshman Brandt Martin tallied nine apiece for the JV Tigers (4-4, 1-1).
With Gould (28) and Simfukwe (19) combining for 47 points, the Tigers led from start to finish of a 61-47 Northern Lakes Conference boys basketball road win over Northridge on Friday night at the Middlebury Madhouse.
“I think a lot of people see points and that’s how they evaluate him,” Moore said of Gould.
In fairness, over the game’s first 100 seconds, it was virtually impossible to see much of anything else. Gould flooded the basket with 10 points in that initial 1:40, including a pair of 3-pointers, while staking Warsaw to a blink-quick 10-2 lead.
But he also added 13 rebounds and three steals on the night as the Tigers (7-3, 2-0) won for the fifth time in their last six games. Gould hit 10-of-15 field goals, including a trio of treys, and 5-of-6 at the line.
“You see the points,” Moore said of Gould, “but it’s also the rebounds, the defensive effort, the steals, the way he talks out there. He commands so much attention. He’s a really good player, and we go as he goes in many ways. I’m proud of how he’s grown from the first of the season to now, and it’s a big reason we’re winning games.”
So is Simfukwe, whose 19 points came on 5-of-9 from the field and 8-of-8 at the line to go with a team-high three assists.
“I think people are missing the boat on Judah,” Moore said in reference to small-college coaches. “He’s a hooper, and a guy that shoots a high percentage (standing over 60% from the field for the second straight year). He’s just a load. He can guard, rebound, play on the ball, play off the ball. I think there’s a lot of people that should consider taking a flyer on him. He’s kind of an old-school, throwback guy, a mid-range guy, but he’s very productive in what he does.”
Gould (12) and Simfukwe (seven) combined for all but one of Warsaw’s first-quarter points as the Tigers jumped to a 20-11 lead.
In the second period, the visitors labored against the hawking of the Raiders (3-7, 0-2), committing seven of their 18 turnovers on the night, but amped up their own defense as well and still extended their lead to 30-17 at the half.
Warsaw stretched the spread to as much as 19 in the third quarter, and never allowed the hosts closer than 10 in the fourth, that at 36 seconds to go.
“We were able to be physical and apply pressure and force them into one-and-done,” Moore said. “We were able to rebound well and keep them from setting up their full-court pressure.”
For the evening, the Tigers won the board battle 35-21.
They also shot 20-of-37 from the field, including 5-of-13 outside the arc, and 16-of-18 at the line. They limited Northridge to 17-of-56 from the field, including 7-of-26 from distance, and eight free throws, with the Raiders making six.
“There’s some things, like obviously the turnovers, we can hone in on to improve,” Moore said, “but I like where our group’s at right now. They believe in the process and it’s been fun to coach them. I like how we’re guarding, and we tweaked some things four or five games ago to space the floor a little better offensively.”
Drew Heckaman scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds for Warsaw, while Ross Winchester hauled in seven rebounds.
Micah Hochstetler paced the Raiders with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. Blake Jacobs added 11 points and five boards.
The game launched a stretch in which the Tigers will play 10 of their final 14 regular-season contests on the road.
That travel show continues Tuesday against a familiar face when Warsaw visits 4A No. 5-ranked Penn and coach Al Rhodes, who crafted the majority of his Hall of Fame career with the Tigers.
The Kingsmen, a potential Elkhart Sectional opponent featuring standout guards Markus Burton and Joe Smith, are 8-0 heading into their visit to 4A No. 9 Valparaiso on Saturday.
In Friday’s junior varsity matchup, Northridge held off Warsaw 41-38.
Freshman Mason Bales scored 17 points to lead all scorers for the JV Raiders (5-2, 1-1). Sophomore Luke Yeager and freshman Brandt Martin tallied nine apiece for the JV Tigers (4-4, 1-1).
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