Triton Dropped by NorthWood
By Anthony Gadson
NAPPANEE - The NorthWood boys basketball team started the season on the right foot, defeating Triton 89-57 Friday night at The Pit.
It was the Panthers first game of the season, but the players didn�t play like it. NorthWood was able to force turnovers and hit open jumpers all night long.
"I'm very pleased with our first game of the year," Panthers Coach Dan Gunn said. "We only had about 10 turnovers and played really well."
Trojans coach Michael McBride was pleased with his team's play, even though Triton was on the short end of the stick.
"The kids battled real hard," McBride said. "(NorthWood) is a great basketball team. They have good quickness, experience and balance."
NorthWood had a balanced attack with six players scoring nine points or more. Seniors Ryan Bradley and Robbie Lightfoot. Bradley had 24 points and Lightfoot 18. Freshman Ryne Lightfoot contributed with 12 points off the bench.
"Bradley and Lightfoot did a heck of a job," Gunn said of his seniors guards. "Ryan Lightfoot, who is only a freshman, did real well too."
Triton was led by Junior Todd Blackford. He scored a game-high 27 points in the losing effort.
"He's (Blackford) going to see a lot of defensive attention," McBride said.� He worked real hard tonight, and he's only going to get better and make us better."
Triton began the game in a fast way, by taking the tip-off and going ahead 3-0, after Junior Kyle Bell was able to convert a three-point play.
Bradley was able to regroup the Panthers and score nine of his 13 points in the quarter on four consecutive trips down the floor, giving NorthWood a 24-17 advantage after the first quarter.
Triton went to a zone defense during the second quarter, limiting the Panthers to 17 points in the quarter, their lowest quarter of the game.
"We went into the zone, and that kept us in it, but they are a very explosive team," McBride said.
The Trojans were able to cut a 15-point second quarter lead to 10 points at the half after Triton guard Adam Wanemacher hit a 3-point shot at the end of the first half.
Robbie Lightfoot was able to put Triton away during the third quarter, when he scored nine of his 18 points in the quarter.
Blackford left the game with 5:55 left in the third quarter with a cut on his head. Because he was bleeding on his jersey, he had to go to the dressing room and change jerseys. By that point, NorthWood was in control 67-51. That's the closest the Trojans would come.
The Panthers took a 64-44 lead into the fourth quarter and added to the lead by making five 3-point baskets in the final period.
"For this being their first game they played extremely well," McBride said. "They were ready to play tonight."
Even in defeat both McBride and Gunn saw real potential in the Triton team that showed up Friday night.
"That's a good team," Gunn said. "Blackford is a tough match-up and Wanemacher is good at the point. They are a physical team that plays aggressively."
"I'm real pleased with our effort," McBride said. "(Junior) Josh Moore is hurt right now, but once we are able to get it together we'll be a good team."
NorthWood hosts Westview, while Triton returns home for its opener Tuesday against North Miami.
NORTHWOOD 89, TRITON 57
At Nappanee
NORTHWOOD (89): Brandon Hall 0 0-0 0, Adam Leeper 4 1-3 9, Ryne Lightfoot 3 4-4 12, Robbie Lightfoot 7 1-2 18, Wes BeMiller 3 1-1 11, Ryan Bradley 9 4-4 26, Trevor Shields 0 0-2 0, Josh Sabo 0 0-2 0, Phil BeMiller 0 0-0 0, Thayne Grove 1 0-0 2, Scott Mast 4 3-5 11. TOTALS 31 15-24 87.
TRITON (57): Adam Wanemacher 2 1-4 6, Cory McClarnon 0 0-0 0, Todd Blackford 10 4-5 27, Jordan Sauer 1 0-0 2, Kyle Bell 5 1-2 11, Braxton Barton 3 0-0 7, Brent Savill 0 0-2 0, Bryan Watkins 0 0-0 0, Dan Kuhn 1 0-0 2, Isaac Sellers 1 0-1, 2. TOTALS: 23 6-14 57.
Score by quarters
NorthWood 24 41 64 89 Triton 17 31 44 57
3-pointers: NorthWood 12 (Bradley 4, Robbie Lightfoot 3, Wes BeMiller 3, Ryne Lightfoot 2), Triton 5 (Blackford 3, Wanemacher 1, Barton 1). Total Fouls (fouled out): NorthWood 15 (none), Triton 16 (none).
Records: NorthWood 1-0, Triton 0-2.
JV Score: NorthWood 53, Triton 17.
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