Robert Smith
CENTERVILLE, Ind. – Second-ranked Northeastern was able to survive a quick start by the Centerville boys basketball team on Friday as the Knights posted a 70-49 victory over the Bulldogs.
“Tonight was better than last week,” Northeastern Head Coach Brent Ross said of his team’s season opening overtime win at Monroe Central.
“It’s a process,” Ross added. “Especially defensively, we kept our hands off and we didn’t reach as much. We committed 36 fouls in our last game. We did a pretty good job of keeping them off the free throw line.”
Centerville was 7-of-8 from the line in the Tri-Eastern Conference contest against the Knights (2-0, 1-0).
The Bulldogs began with a 13-5 advantage in the opening period after Matt Stamper drilled a 3-pointer with 2:09 remaining in the first.
“They came out with a lof of confidence,” Ross said of Centerville. “You have to continue to play defense, we lost (Justin) DuPree a couple of times in that first quarter.”
Northeastern closed the gap to 13-10 by the end of the first quarter.
“We came out and we attacked first,” Centerville Head Coach Seve Beach said. “(Northeastern) responded like a team that’s been around the block before should respond.”
“They won the second quarter 23-9,” Beach continued. “That’s where some of our youth and inexperience caught up with us.”
By the intermission, Northeastern led 33-22. The Knights added to their lead at the third stop with the score of 49-32.
The victory was the 16th TEC win in a row for the Knights. It is the 23 straight win over a conference foe, which includes county tourney and sectional contests. Union County’s win over the Knights in the 2012 sectional was the last time the Knights dropped a contest to a TEC squad.
It was also Northeastern’s seventh win a row over Centerville. The last time the Bulldogs beat the Knights was a 54-45 decision in the Wayne County Tournament on Jan. 5, 2012.
Northeastern had four players in double figures led by Robert Smith, who finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Tyler Smith added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while transfer Bailey Stewart tossed in 15 points.
“Bailey is a smart basketball player,” Ross said of his newcomer. “He doesn’t force anything.”
Matt Stamper
Nate Reynolds contributed 10 points.
Stamper topped the Bulldogs with 14 points and Myles Cunningham had 12 points and seven rebounds.
DuPree fininshed with 10 points and Alex Brandon added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
“These guys do not quit and that’s the great thing about them,” Beach said. “We’re not hanging our heads. There’s things we can take from this. We’re looking at that bigger picture and there are a ton of positives you can take from games.”
Centerville (0-3, 0-1) faces Franklin County at on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Northeastern returns to action at Eastern Hancock on Friday, Dec. 11.
Box Score
NORTHEASTERN (2-0, 1-0) – Tyler Smith 6 5-6 17, Bailey Stewart 6 2-3 15, Robert Smith 9 4-6 22, Nate Reynolds 4 0-0 10, DaShawn Hampton 1 0-0 3, Harrison Rice 0 1-2 1, Austin Clay 0 0-0 0, Kaleb Mikesell 0 0-0 0, Alec Sheets 0 2-2 2, Jalen Hillard 0 0-0 0, Quinton West 0 0-0 0, Jacob Auger 0 0-0 0. Team – 26 14-19 70.
CENTERVILLE (0-3, 0-1) – Myles Cunningham 5 2-2 12, Matt Stamper 4 5-6 14, Dante Torres 0 0-0 0, Alex Brandon 4 0-0 8, Justin DuPree 4 0-0 10, Devin Christian 1 0-0 2, Justyn North 1 0-0 3, Kody Witham 0 0-0 0, Josh Duke 0 0-0 0. Team – 19 7-8 49.
Northeastern 10 33 45 70
Centerville 13 22 32 49