Panthers return to action, sweep Hobgood Charter

Published 11:48 pm Saturday, December 21, 2024

By Jason O. Boyd

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YEATESVILLE, N.C. — Northside’s basketball teams got something positive from their games with Hobgood Charter just before the Christmas break.

Northside’s girls won 58-14, getting lots of playing time for all of the team members. Northside boys basketball coach Jared Adams said his team played one of its most complete defensive games of the season and pulled away from a scrappy Hobgood team in an 80-45 win.

Both teams went into the Christmas break with an even better sense of confidence. While both squads will stay busy with practice, they won’t have the entire period away from play. The Panthers will host Lawrence Academy on Dec. 30. It’s a replacement game after Washington High School canceled its meeting with the Panthers so the boys’ basketball team could play in the John Wall Invitational in Raleigh.

Northside’s boys will play in the Virginia Hoopfest Showcase Series on Dec. 28. Northside will square off with Norfolk Collegiate at 5:45 p.m. at Franklin High School in Franklin, Va. The school is a little over two hours from Northside, southwest of Suffolk, Va.

“Yeah, basketball’s a tough season because you’ve got Thanksgiving break, then you’ve got exams that set you back a little bit. Then you’ve got Christmas break,” Adams said. I mean, you’ve got a lot of adversity you’re playing through. So you always have to start, stop, start, stop, and try to keep rhythm.

“Hopefully, we carry that over Christmas break. We’re excited to take part in the showcase.”

Northside’s girls (8-0) used a similar game plan that worked quickly, play good defense, put pressure on the ballhandlers and convert points on fast breaks. The Panthers held Hobgood to no points in the second quarter and only one in the third for a 54-5 lead after three quarters.

Northside girls’ coach Michelle Leathers rotated groups of four to five players in and out throughout the game, giving each member a chance to get game experience on both sides of the ball. As a result, nine of the 13 players got points on the scoreboard. That included starter O.J. Cahoon, who led the Panthers with 12 points, and reserve EllaKate Hanna, who had 11 points.

“Well, I don’t think the game plan’s really much different,” Cahoon said. “I think what’s different is all of our girls get to play and we can actually … it’s not like a practice, but we can get the girls like EllaKate, who doesn’t play as much, to run through our plays and with actual competition, not just us in practice.

“We’re not taking any breaks at all. We have practice all week, even Saturdays. And so it’s pretty much the same.”

“Yeah, I really like it,” Hanna said of the chance to play more. “It’s very different than what I was used to. We’re all pretty used to playing with each other. I’m just trying to focus on the game.”

Hobgood’s boys gave Northside (6-1) a challenge before the Panthers’ defense did its part. Hobgood led 15-13 after Hudson Roberson hit his second 3-pointer and the Raiders’ third of the quarter. Northside scored the last six baskets — a putback and circus shot reverse layup by Nick Moore and a rebound and basket by Malachi Moore — for a 19-15 advantage.

The Panthers then tightened up the defense, holding the Raiders without a field goal in the second quarter and just two free throws in the first four minutes. Moore had a two-handed slam on a fast break that started a 15-1 run for a 36-18 Northside lead at the break. Seven players scored points for the Panthers in the second quarter.

‘Yeah, mix defenses up. We did better, did well in transition,” Adams said. “We still have to clean up a few things defensively. We got out of position a couple times, and offensively, not forcing the basketball.

“But as a whole, keeping up-tempo, transition, playing with pace of the game. Very, very good job. Defensively, one of our better games tonight.

Moore added another steal and dunk that was part of another run by Northside, leading to a 57-40 lead after three quarters.

Every Northside player had at least two points with Malachi Moore and Nick Moore each scoring 17 to lead the way.

“Memphis, well, we got to thank the Memphis, too,” Malachi Moore said of his teammate, who had nine points. “He’s came a long way, and we’re very thankful for the team also. And Nick, too, rebounds, rebounds, and Chase (Hewitt).

“Also, me and Max with assists, you know, passing off the ball a lot and helping our teammates out with the points. And then during the second half, I had to get myself together and calm down, cool down, and toughen up. And I got to thank coach about that, Coach Adams.”

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