Nicholson helps NW hang on
In a basketball sense, Craig Nicholson's play belies his sophomore standing.
Nicholson, a Northwest guard, guided the Grizzlies with a steady hand and hit 5 of 6 second-half free throws, pacing a 51-43 victory Tuesday night over host South.
Nicholson had six points in the first half, but made a three-pointer in the third quarter to go with his free throws. When he wasn't scoring, he was dribbling out of trouble and trying to help Northwest penetrate South's zone defense.
Nicholson finished with a team-high 14 points, but the Grizzlies used their balance in the triumph.
"That's his responsibility," Grizzlies coach Chris Collins said. "As a sophomore, he's been given the torch, so to speak, and he's handled it well.
"He works hard, and his best days are ahead of him."
Anthony Collins and Chris Fox had nine points each, and sophomore Spenser Gales had eight. More importantly, the 6-foot-7 Gales managed to hold South's 6-5 Tony Buchanan to single baskets in each quarter.
"He's gotten better as the year's gone on," Chris Collins said of Gales. "He's been solid for us all year. He's starting to get more comfortably offensively, and defensively he's always been consistent."
South (2-14. 1-11) outscored Northwest in the second half, 24-21.
"They're a scrappy team, and I was proud that our guys did what was necessary," Chris Collins said.
The Titans were powered by 12 second-half points from senior Jante Glenn. Glenn finished with a game-high 19.
"Jante's a guy that's kind of stepped up for us in a lot of different ways," South coach Steve Lilly said. "He's an emotional leader. His effort's been good; his attitude's been good."
Northwest (9-7, 8-4) jumped to an early lead on Fox's nine first-half points and three-pointers by Nicholson and Dave Carson. But the Titans rallied in the second half behind Glenn, who beat the Grizzlies to the basket three times on nifty baseline moves.
"We've got to get them quick while they're off guard," Glenn said. "We've just got to keep working hard as a team, stay together, stay focused and be disciplined and we'll be in there. We'll get in there."
Northwest (9-7, 8-4) 11 19 7 14 — 51 South (2-13, 1-11) 6 13 9 15 — 43
NORTHWEST: Collins 4 1-3 9, Nicholson 3 6-8 14, Landenberger 1 0-0 2, Carson 2 0-0 5, Gales 4 0-0 8, Fox 4 1-5 9, White 1 0-0 2, Johnson 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 (3) 8-16 51.
SOUTH: Perkins 1 2-2 5, Bradley 3 3-4 9, Glenn 7 3-3 19, Carmine 1 0-0 2, Buchanan 4 0-0 8. Totals 16 (3) 8-11 43.
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