Nate Reynolds
FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind. – Tough games can make teams better.
The Northeastern boys basketball team needed a come-from-behind effort to take care of business on Monday night as the No. 3 Knights defeated Gary 21st Century 83-78 to advance to the championship game in their own tourney.
“If we’re going to meet our goals at the end of the year, we’re going to face teams like this,” Northeastern Head Coach Brent Ross said. “Games like this help us. These are regional like games.”
Ranked No. 3 in Class 2A, Northeastern is set to battle Union County for the tourney title on Tuesday night. Union County defeated Lawrenceburg 58-48 to advance.
The Knights trailed by double digits twice in the second quarter before fighting back to lead 38-36 at halftime.
In the second half, both teams had leads until the Knights took control late in the contest.
“To keep battling back says a lot for this team as far as being able to handle situations down the stretch,” Ross said. “Maybe if we could have made free throws, it wouldn’t have been so close.”
Northeastern was 16-of-29 from the free throw line, but it really didn’t matter late in the affair.
The Cougars (6-3), who are ranked 15th in Class 1A, were on top 72-67 after Armod Cathey drilled a 3-pointer with 3:36 remaining.
Northeastern scored 13 points in a row to go in front for good at 80-72 with 1:52 as Tyler Smith capped the run with back-to-back baskets.
“It was up and down and fast paced,” said Northeastern’s Nate Reynolds, who led the Knights with 23 points. “Everybody stepped up their play.”
In addition to Reynolds, the Knights had three others in double figures. Tyler Smith had 19, while Bailey Stewart added 18 with Robert Smith tossing in 17 to go with nine rebounds.
Eugene German led the Cougars with a wide variety of shots that added up to a game-high 34 points.
“He’s one of the greatest players in the state,” Ross said.
But Ross was pleased with the Smith brothers and the contributions of Reynolds and Stewart.
“They’ve got what it takes to play at the next level,” Ross said. “I can’t say enough about the big shots Nate hits.”
Reynolds hit six 3-pointers, which matched the efforts of German and Cathey, who had 19 for the Cougars.
Box Score
GARY 21ST CENTURY (6-3) – Cor’Von Lett 4 0-0 8, Eugene German 13 5-8 34, DeAndre Gholson 3 0-0 6, Armod Cathey 7 0-0 19, Tyler Booker 3 3-4 9, Jerell Northern 0 0-0 0, Edwin Hardiman 1 0-0 2, Deshawn Roberts 0 0-0 0. Team – 12 6-7 32.
NORTHEASTERN (6-1) – Tyler Smith 8 3-3 19, Bailey Stewart 7 3-4 18, Robert Smith 6 5-9 17, Nate Reynolds 8 1-2 23, Harrison Rice 0 1-2 1, Kaleb Mikesell 0 1-2 1, DaShawn Hampton 1 2-2 4, Austin Clay 0 0-0 0, Alec Sheets 0 0-0 0. Team – 30 16-29 83.
Gary 21st Century 21 36 62 78
Northeastern 15 38 55 83
3-pointers – Gary 21st Century 8 (Cathey 5, German 3), Northeastern 7 (N. Reynolds 6, Stewart 1). Rebounds – Gary 21st Century 36 (Booker 12), Northeastern 32 (R. Smith 9). Turnovers – Gary 21st Century 16, Northeastern 10. Fouls – Gary 21st Century 24, Northeastern 13.