Flint Northwestern at Bridgeport

Bridgeport- The host team entered Wednesday night’s game against Flint Northwestern with a perfect 12-0 record but the knock on the Bearcats is that they haven’t seen true competition.  Bridgeport stepped up to the challenge and almost pulled out a win before falling in overtime 70-68 to the Wildcats.

The Bearcats took advantage of the home court friendly baskets and used an 8-0 run to take a 10-4 lead.  Northwestern sophomore Jalen McGee connected on a basket to end the first quarter to trim the Port’s lead 15-10.  The Wildcats’ big fella- Charles Morgan put back consecutive baskets to give Northwestern their first lead at 16-15.  The two teams matched basket for basket while Darvin Ham Jr.’s basket tied the score 26-26 at the half.

Baskets from Earvin Burton and Derrick Davis topped off an 8-2 Bearcat run to give the Port a 41-35 lead with a 1:46 left in the third.  Bryson Ruffin’s 3-porter gave the Bearcats a 48-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter.  Bridgeport controlled the lead until Travon Mitchell’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 54-52 and Walter Trouser tied the game at 54-54.  Bridgeport regained the lead on back to back isolation plays for Davis but Trouser responded with his own pair of baskets to send the game into overtime.  Trouser connected again in overtime and Mitchell sunk a pair of free-throws to give Northwestern a two point lead with less than a minute left in the OT.  Bridgeport had shots to tie the game and even a 3-pointer to win the game but couldn’t get them to go down.

BREAKDOWN: Bridgeport showed that despite the loss their 12-1 record is legit and they are a team that Class B teams better be aware of.  I still don’t think they are on the level of Country Day or Flint Powers but the Bearcats are for real.  They have a solid starting five but a lack of depth concerns me.  I was really impressed with their desire to crash the boards with four players 6-3 or taller.

I’ve seen Northwestern play four or five times this season and it seems like I see a different team every time.  To their credit they have gone through a lot by losing their top scorer but I’m not sure if overall they are the team that beat Saginaw High last week or the team that lost to Beecher.  Last night they player decent for three and a half quarters but it was still good enough to get the win.  I was very impressed with the Wildcats patience on the offensive end as they worked for the best shot, particularly down the stretch.

PLAYER OF GAME: Walter Trouser, NW- I’ve watched Trouser for years so I have a feel of what he can do.  He’s always been a “player” but in the past he’s been on the backburner to Dre Upchurch, but now this is his team.  Even now Trouser defers to his teammates but when the going got tough Trouser took over.  The senior PG finished with 21 points and 5 assist to go with 4 steals.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Chatavius Turner, NW- like his backcourt teammate (Trouser), Turner can score in bunches but he does a good job of being patient and working for the highest percentage shot.  Turner racked up 18 points.

Chris Campbell, NW- at times it seemed like Campbell was in the paint rebounding by himself against four Bearcats…but he threw his muscle around and held his own.  Did a good job of staying out of foul trouble and he finished with 9 points and 11 rebounds.

Derrick Davis, Port- Davis made a believer out of me and in time he just might be a D-1 player.  He has solid fundamental skills and is a pure scorer that can rely on his jump shot.  He excels in the midrange department and is a beast on the boards despite standing only 6-3.

Bryson Ruffin, Port- Davis, Burton, and Ham get most of the Bearcat pub but you better believe that Ruffin is the piston that makes this team’s engine run.  Nothing fancy from this blue collar point guard but he is consistent and gets the job done.  He knows how to move the ball around and get it to the hot hand.  Ruffin has signed to play football at D-2 Northwood.

Darvin Ham, Jr., Port- I like Hams’ game and it resembles Davis’, but down the stretch Ham disappeared.  The 6-3 junior still rung up a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds but most of it came in the first three quarters.