Caleb Lung (in back) eyes a rebound. Lung helped host NorthWood beat Mishawaka 63-42 Friday night to win their own Dan Gunn Holiday Tourney title.
NAPPANEE – Keeping the holiday hardware at home is always a good idea.
The NorthWood boys basketball team made sure that was going to the case once again Friday night.
The host Panthers controlled the title game of their own Dan Gunn Holiday Tourney from start to finish in downing Mishawaka 63-42.
NorthWood, ranked No. 13 in Class 3-A, used its offensive balance once again to earn the title of the event for the second straight season. The Panthers beat South Bend Clay 65-53 in the championship contest of the inaugural event a year ago.
Trent Edwards follows through on a jumper.
NorthWood, which improved to 7-2 with its fourth straight win, placed a trio of players in double figures. Seniors DeAndre Smart and Brad Delio each scored 12 points and senior Caleb Lung added 10 for the champions.
The Panthers bolted to a 9-0 lead to open the game as Lung scored his team’s first five points of the night. Mishawaka did make its first shot until Grant Jablonski hit a trey with 1:42 to play in the first quarter.
“I thought that we were fortunate to make some shots early and also fortunate that they missed some as well,” said NorthWood coach Aaron Wolfe of the fine start. “I thought that our guys did a good job staying in front of them and challenging shots.”
NorthWood led just 9-5 after the opening period before taking a 25-15 halftime lead. Junior Nick Bean scored seven of his nine points in the second stanza.
The Panthers took complete control of the game with a strong third period. The hosts outscored the Cavemen 16-9 in the frame to build a 41-24 advantage. Delio hit a pair of treys in the quarter to spark his team.
“Starting quarters strong and finishing them is always important and we did a good job of that tonight,” remarked Wolfe. “I think that we have made strides forward over the break on both ends of the floor, offensively and defensively. I feel that we are an improved basketball team.”
The Panthers, who had been idle for 13 days before crushing Edwardsburg 77-32 in a first-round game Thursday night, continues to shine because of unselfish team play. The Panthers, who went 21-3 a year ago, have not missed a beat despite losing three starters from last season including star guard Vinny Miranda.
Nick Bean had nine points for the champs.
“I feel like our ability to get better week by week might be our largest advantage at this point of the season,” Wolfe stated. “We were coming into the season hoping that our offensive balance would make us tough to play against. So far, each game we have had a number of guys step up and score for us and that has provided consistency for us.”
NorthWood shot a fine 22-35 overall from the field by continuing to share the basketball. The hosts hit 12-16 shots in the second half. The Panthers were 5-12 from distance and 14-24 from the free throw line.
Mishawaka hit just 12-37 shots in falling to 5-5 on the season. The Cavemen were 6-17 from deep and 12-21 from the line.
Grant Jablonski led Mishawaka with 12 points. Payton Johnson, one of eight seniors, had nine points.
Bean finished with nine points for the Panthers. Kaden Gongwer and Trent Edwards each added six points, while Matt Dutkowski had four and Luke Holland and Brock Flickinger each finished with two.
Smart and Lung each had seven rebounds and Delio six assists for NorthWood.
The Panthers played again without Caleb Glick. The senior is still sidelined after suffering a knee injury versus Jimtown on Dec. 12. Glick is expected back some time this season according to Wolfe.
South Bend Clay edged Edwardsburg 53-52 in the consolation game Friday night to claim its first win of the season. Omari Beecham had 15 points and Allan Prestly nine to lead the Colonials. Tre Harvey had 17 points and Mac Gaideski 11 to lead the Eddies.
The NorthWood junior varsity team beat Mishawaka 48-29 Friday night. Ben Vincent led the way with 19 points. Brock Flickinger scored eight points and Jason Borkholder added seven.
NorthWood plays at Wawasee next Friday night in a Northern Lakes Conference contest. Mishawaka hosts Niles on Jan. 6.
Members of the NorthWood boys basketball team pose with the trophy after winning the Dan Gunn Holiday Tourney championship Friday night. Gunn, the former outstanding coach of the Panthers, is in the middle in the back row.