GALION — Northmor coach Blade Tackett knew who Galion’s shooters were. Stopping them was a completely different story.
“They had a couple of guys that played really well,” Tackett said. “We knew that’s what they were good at. They played really well, especially lately, against Highland.
“We just didn’t execute what we were supposed to do,” he added. “We knew we had to pressure their shooters, be physical with them on the catch, and, early on, we didn’t do that. When we see a couple go through and when they are open late in the game, they are going to knock them down. We knew that was their strength. Tonight, we didn’t execute it and they took advantage of it.”
Hudson Miller scored 25 points, and his two 3-point shots to open the fourth period increased the Galion lead from three to 59-50. Northmor never recovered.
Cooper Kent, who recently returned from a broken collar bone suffered during football season, knocked down five 3s and added 18 points as the Tigers dropped the Knights, 73-64.
Galion improved to 2-6 overall while Northmor dropped to 5-5.
Galion coach Ryan Stover said that, with Kent returning, his team is finally at full strength.
“We finally decided that we wanted to gel together as a team and, the last couple of games, we finally got it,” Stover said. “Right now, we have the most confidence in ourselves shooting the ball.
“I’m proud of those guys for how hard they played and the effort they are giving right now,” he added.
Miller scored 13 points and Kent added 12 points in the first half as the Tigers held a 39-30 lead at the break. And when the Knights finally got the lead in the third period, 46-45, on a Grant Bentley layup with 2:31 left, Galion’s Rece Payne completed a three-point play, Miller completed a three-point play, Jaxon Oswald scored on a layup and the Tigers took a 53-50 lead into the final frame.
“We played lights out and, with Cooper coming back, he gives us a huge lift,” Stover said. “He’s not ready for the minutes and he’s a work in progress. If he continues to give us the minutes he is, we’ll be all right.”
Northmor cut the lead to six twice in the fourth period, but each time, the Tigers responded, the first coming on a Kent layup and the second on a Miller free throw.
Tackett said that his team has not been as consistent as he would like defensively.
“We’re trying to be a specific type of defensive team, we’re just not there yet,” Tackett said. “We can’t be a team that gives up 40 to an undefeated Centerburg team and also give up 70 to Mount Gilead and Galion, who are both good teams with really good shooters, but we have to bring a kind of energy to all of the opponents that we play.
Both teams shot the ball well. Northmor hit 24 of 47 shots (51 percent), while Galion made 27 of 61 (44 percent). But the Tigers made shots in critical situations.
“We dove on the floor, we went after loose balls, we did what we were supposed to do,” Stover said. “These guys don’t quit and that’s what we love in them. They don’t quit.”
Bentley led the Knights with 23 points and Max Lower added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Tackett said that his team still had positives on the night.
“We still scored 60,” Tackett said. “I think we still executed when we had a couple guys that got face-guarded, we had a couple of guys step up. Andrew Armrose hit some big shots, Max (Lower) got us the eight points and eight rebounds that he always does. Grant had to work hard all night, but he got his 20.
“It’s hard to win at this level,” Tackett added. “Kids are good and we’re playing the best players. Galion is a super-talented team and I tip my hat to them. But we just didn’t make it tough on them.”
Northmor won the junior varsity game, 58-42. Bryson Keirns led the Knights with 16 points. Carson Teynor scored 13 points for Galion.
Box score
Northmor 12 18 20 14 — 64
Galion 19 20 14 20 — 73
Northmor (5-5): Shots 24-47; 3-pt. shots 7 (Grant Bentley 3, Andrew Ambrose 2, Caleb Schnuerer 2); Free throws 9-17; Rebounds 29; Turnovers 11. Scoring: Graesin Cass 3 0 6, Grant Bentley 9 2 23, Andrew Armrose 3 0 8, Logan Mariotti 2 1 5, Maxton Lower 5 3 13, Caleb Schnuerer 2 3 9.
Galion (2-6): Shots 27-61; 3-pt. shots 8 (Cooper Kent 5, Hudson Miller 3); Free throws 11-16; Rebounds 27; Turnovers 9. Scoring: Jaxon Oswald 4 0 8, Rece Payne 2 3 7, Steven Glew 3 0 6, Garrett Ison 2 5 9, Cooper Kent 6 1 18, Hudson Miller 10 2 25.
JV: Northmor 58-42.