"Northland Vikings collide with powerhouse from Cincinnati"
Coming off a convincing victory over city league opponent Whetstone last night, with their legs
probably tired from last night, could Northland withstand another 32 minutes of basketball? Not only
that,, but against an opponent who would give them a run for their money.
Mr. "Highlight" Weatherspoon got the game going in Northland's favor with a monstrous put back
dunk for the first points of the game. That's exactly what they needed to help get them on a run.
Cincinnati Aiken looked confused on what they wanted to do, and what Northland was giving them.
Aiken committed would be costly turnovers that put them behind, what they did not want to do. On the
other hand, Northland made some mistakes and turnovers also that kept Aiken in the game, sort of.
The Vikings have proved over the years that they know how to handle the big stage. A big reason why
is because they have big stage players in Sullinger, Weatherspoon, Cornely, and sophomore point
guard Burke. Sullinger and Weatherspoon led the team in points in the first quarter with 6 points
each, and at the end of the period Northland led 19 to 10. In the second quarter, Northland got sloppy
with the basketball, and did not look like the team in the first quarter. Despite the sloppiness,
Northland was just too good in the first half. Guard Dimonde Hale chipped in 5 points that helped
Northland take a 36 to 25 lead going into half-time.
In the third, the Vikings continued their balance on offense while still making Aiken work hard for
every shot they put up, especially in the paint. I wondered if Northland would make the mistake like
they have in the past and put it into cruise control. They didn't, even though at times they mishandled
the ball carelessly. Credit to Trey Burke, as he commanded the offense exactly how a point guard
should. When the team seemed to struggle at times, he got them back on track. At the end of the
third, the score was 53 to 34, NHS. The 4th quarter was all Sullinger scoring 9 of his game high 23
points. There is no question why he is one of the best players in the country. This game Northland
controlled from the start and never lost their grip. The Final score, 71 to 45, NHS. Northland has
made their mark on the city league, Dayton, and now Cincinnati. Next will be a rough week again,
playing 3 games. Tuesday against Linden, Friday against their rival and currently undefeated
Beechcroft, and Saturday against San Diego (Ca.) in Dayton. San Diego boasts one of the best in
country, Jeremy Tyler, 6'8" 240 lbs. What a match-up that will be.
Stats:
Northland:
Trey Burke 10 pts, 3 asts,3 stls, 1 reb
J.D. Weatherspoon 18 pts, 1 blk, 1 ast, 2 stls, 4 rebs
Dimonde Hale 7 pts, 1 ast, 8 rebs,
Javon Cornley 8 pts, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 reb,
Jared Sullinger 23 pts, 2 asts, 1 stl, 11 rebs,
Ricky Bennett 1 stl, 3 rebs,
Sam Belisle 1 reb,
Quentin Henderson 1 stl,
Ke'Chaun Lewis 1 ast,
Devon Scott 1 blk, 1 stl,
Roberto Pierre 1 blk, 2 rebs,
Lavante Justice 1 pt,
Charles Edgerton 4 pts
David Henderson
(dhenderson@columbuscityleague.com)
Coming off a convincing victory over city league opponent Whetstone last night, with their legs
probably tired from last night, could Northland withstand another 32 minutes of basketball? Not only
that,, but against an opponent who would give them a run for their money.
Mr. "Highlight" Weatherspoon got the game going in Northland's favor with a monstrous put back
dunk for the first points of the game. That's exactly what they needed to help get them on a run.
Cincinnati Aiken looked confused on what they wanted to do, and what Northland was giving them.
Aiken committed would be costly turnovers that put them behind, what they did not want to do. On the
other hand, Northland made some mistakes and turnovers also that kept Aiken in the game, sort of.
The Vikings have proved over the years that they know how to handle the big stage. A big reason why
is because they have big stage players in Sullinger, Weatherspoon, Cornely, and sophomore point
guard Burke. Sullinger and Weatherspoon led the team in points in the first quarter with 6 points
each, and at the end of the period Northland led 19 to 10. In the second quarter, Northland got sloppy
with the basketball, and did not look like the team in the first quarter. Despite the sloppiness,
Northland was just too good in the first half. Guard Dimonde Hale chipped in 5 points that helped
Northland take a 36 to 25 lead going into half-time.
In the third, the Vikings continued their balance on offense while still making Aiken work hard for
every shot they put up, especially in the paint. I wondered if Northland would make the mistake like
they have in the past and put it into cruise control. They didn't, even though at times they mishandled
the ball carelessly. Credit to Trey Burke, as he commanded the offense exactly how a point guard
should. When the team seemed to struggle at times, he got them back on track. At the end of the
third, the score was 53 to 34, NHS. The 4th quarter was all Sullinger scoring 9 of his game high 23
points. There is no question why he is one of the best players in the country. This game Northland
controlled from the start and never lost their grip. The Final score, 71 to 45, NHS. Northland has
made their mark on the city league, Dayton, and now Cincinnati. Next will be a rough week again,
playing 3 games. Tuesday against Linden, Friday against their rival and currently undefeated
Beechcroft, and Saturday against San Diego (Ca.) in Dayton. San Diego boasts one of the best in
country, Jeremy Tyler, 6'8" 240 lbs. What a match-up that will be.
Stats:
Northland:
Trey Burke 10 pts, 3 asts,3 stls, 1 reb
J.D. Weatherspoon 18 pts, 1 blk, 1 ast, 2 stls, 4 rebs
Dimonde Hale 7 pts, 1 ast, 8 rebs,
Javon Cornley 8 pts, 1 blk, 1 stl, 1 reb,
Jared Sullinger 23 pts, 2 asts, 1 stl, 11 rebs,
Ricky Bennett 1 stl, 3 rebs,
Sam Belisle 1 reb,
Quentin Henderson 1 stl,
Ke'Chaun Lewis 1 ast,
Devon Scott 1 blk, 1 stl,
Roberto Pierre 1 blk, 2 rebs,
Lavante Justice 1 pt,
Charles Edgerton 4 pts
David Henderson
(dhenderson@columbuscityleague.com)
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| January 10, 2009 |
Boys Results
Pickerington North 59, South 49
South 13 10 19 7 - 49
Pickerington North 17 19 12 11 - 59
South:
Cardwell -19
Day -11
Kee 4-3-11
Pickerington North:
Brindle -16
Klamo -13
Pickerington North 59, South 49
South 13 10 19 7 - 49
Pickerington North 17 19 12 11 - 59
South:
Cardwell -19
Day -11
Kee 4-3-11
Pickerington North:
Brindle -16
Klamo -13
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