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NAPPANEE - He didn't hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer nor did he score 20 points, but for the NorthWood student section in attendance at last night's boys basketball game with Whitko, Sean Clem was the hero.
With 33.5 seconds left and the game well in hand, Clem sank two free throw attempts pushing their score over the century mark. Clem's two free throws made it 100-44 and the Panthers went on to win 102-46, improving their overall season record to 10-9. Whitko falls to 6-13.
NorthWood's Darin Nunemaker led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. Ian Reed added 15 points in the win, and Charlie Roeder and Brock Doty chipped in 14 and 13 points respectively. Whitko was led by Ben Ryan's and Jeff Martin's 11 points each.
Ben Mohr put the Wildcats on the board first giving them an early 2-0 lead, but it was all down hill from there. For the game Whitko shot just 17 of 49 (34.7 percent) from the floor. The Panthers, on the other hand, made good on 41 of 68 (60.3 percent) field goal attempts and led 21-12 after the first quarter of play.
"We shot the ball well and moved the ball well," said NorthWood coach Dan Gunn, "if we'd done that all year it would be nice. The way we started the game we took it right at them. Our defensive pressure was the secret to our offense."
Indeed it was. The Panthers stole the ball from the Wildcats 21 times and forced them into a total of 33 turnovers. NorthWood was victim to just six turnovers.
And when they did miss their shots the Panthers got the rebounds. NorthWood outrebounded the Wildcats 38-28 giving them numerous second-chance shots.
"Whitko is not real strong on the boards," said Gunn. "Our real test will be Friday with Elkhart Central. Being without a coach is a tough situation for anybody, they're young kids and they'll get better."
Whitko coach Fred Fields is healing from back surgery and hasn't been able to attend games.
NorthWood was playing without 6-4 center Chad Martin but in his absence a total of five Panthers scored in double figures, including Doty who scored 13 points off the bench on a 7 of 9 shooting performance. Sophomore Willy Will came up from the junior varsity team and scored 11 on 5 of 7 shooting.
"I really thought that Doty came off the bench and played really well," said Gunn. "Will came up and got some big steals and was offensive when he came in. Everyone who played caught on real quick and kept up the pace."
This was a pace that allowed the Panthers to outscore Whitko by an overwhelming 61-15 in the second and third quarters combined. Going into the final frame the Panthers were well in control of the game leading 82-27.
NorthWood outscored the Wildcats 20-19 in the final frame, with a number of players rotating in and out, to account for the 56-point victory.
NorthWood (10-9) will host Elkhart Central Friday with the JV contest set to tip off at 6:15 p.m.
"You wanna play well going into the sectionals," said Gunn. "We play Elkhart Central Friday and they're tough."
Whitko (6-13) will be at North Miami on Friday with the JV game starting at 6:30 p.m.
