Entering Tuesday's game with the Ladysmith Lumberjacks, the Northwestern High School boys basketball team was assured at least a share of the Heart O' North Conference title. With three conference games left and a three-game lead on second-place Bloomer, Northwestern needed only one win to take sole possession of the title.
The Tiger boys got that win Tuesday night with a 57-35 victory over Ladysmith. Northwestern moved to 16-3 overall and 12-0 in the conference with the win. Ladysmith holds a 12-7 overall record and 7-5 HON record.
Northwestern started off with a 7-0 run in the first two and a half minutes of the game, but the Tigers then cooled down to lead just 11-6 at the end of the first quarter.
To start the second, the Lumberjacks' Scott Strop pulled down a big offensive rebound and muscled it back to cut Northwestern's lead to 11-8. The Tigers couldn't hit a shot early in the quarter, but a left-handed layup from Lee Brown got Northwestern going again. After Brown's shot the Tigers went on a 9-3 run and led 22-13 at halftime despite foul trouble.
Starters Donnie Hissa and John Darwin both picked up three personal fouls midway through the second quarter and sat out much of the third. The Tiger didn't lose any momentum with their reserves on the floor, though. Kendall Abrahamzon and Justin Alexon in particular helped propel Northwestern to a double digit lead early in the third quarter and Ladysmith couldn't recover.
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Abrahamzon came off the bench to lead the Tigers in scoring with 10 points. He and Brown both hit two 3-pointers for Northwestern.
Tyler Forsythe shut down the Lumberjacks' Eric Effertz on defense and was among four Tigers scoring eight points. Also with eight points were Brown, Hissa And Darwin. Alexson, Jake Dunphy and Timmy Follis added four points apiece, and Steve Perry hit a 3-pointer.
Brent Sisko led Ladysmith with 10 points.
The Tigers play at Bloomer Thursday and then host Minnesota Transitions at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Northwestern 11 11 18 17 -- 57
Ladysmith 6 7 12 10 -- 35
Ladysmith -- Eric Effertz 3, Ryley Closs 5, Jason Prince 6, Scott Strop 7, Brent Sisko 10, Zach Mulholland 4. Totals 11 10-17 35.
3-point goals -- Strop, Sisko 2.
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Northwestern -- Justin Alexson 4, Tyler Forsythe 8, Steve Perry 3, Kendall Abrahamzon 10, Jake Dunphy 4, Timmy Follis 4, Lee Brown 8, Donnie Hissa 8, John Darwin 8. Totals 23 5-14 57.
3-point goals -- Alexson, Perry, Abrahamzon 2, Brown 2.
