Streaking Sidney withstands Northmont’s big challenge

The Northmont CLAYTON — Thunderbolts are searching for that signature win. And coming into Tuesday’s game with state-ranked Sidney, it was easy to write off the Thunderbolts against the high-flying Yellow Jackets.

Yes, Sidney won 72-68 after a back-and-forth, hard-fought fourth quarter. But despite falling, the T-Bolts perhaps put their stamp on the rest of this season.

Northmont (4-8) led Sid- ney (10-1) with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter, clutching to a 66-65 advantage on Prophet Johnson’s basket. But the more experienced Yellow Jackets scored the next five points on a pair of Andre Gordon free throws and a basket and free throw from Lathan Jones, just enough to help Sidney hold on.

“Other than these 18 guys standing in this locker room there aren’t many people who believe this can hap- pen,” Northmont coach Shane Kincer said of his pregame pep talk. “I told them they’re a good basketball team and they’ve just been on the wrong end of it after games. We’re building to get that one signature win to get us over the top.”

They nearly got it Tuesday. Sidney, No. 10 in t his week’s state poll in the Divi- sion I rankings, sprinted to a 10-0 lead, highlighted by Ratez Roberts’ dunk 30 seconds into the game. The T-Bolts responded with seven different players scoring over the next 5:11 as Northmont led 16-11 after a quarter.

Northmont, which led 24-23 at halftime, traded the lead with Sidney five times in the third quarter. That trend continued deep into the fourth quarter, too.

The lead changed eight times, the final time with Gordon’s free throws with 1:27 remaining for the 67-66 lead. Gordon scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half.

“Andre is a great player. We tried to keep the ball out of his hands as much as we could,” Kincer said. “We limited him to two points in the first half. That probably doesn’t happen very often. The second half he went on a little run.”

Northmont’s Jordan Smith pulled the T-Bolts within 70-68 with 28 seconds remaining. Gordon’s reverse layup with 14 seconds capped the scoring. Northmont got off about four shots on its final possession, including three around the rim, but couldn’t get one to go.

“I told the team I thought we played one of the top two teams in the Dayton area and we went toe-to-toe with them,” Kincer said. “If you can do that with Sidney you should be able to compete with every team left on our schedule . ... I think this could be a big building block for the rest of the season.”

Johnson led Northmont with 16 points and Justin Golson added 13. Patrick Ivory and Jordan Smith both finished with nine as 10 players scored.

“Prophet is a great player. He does it all,” Kincer said. “He does a good job sharing the basketball and helping set up other scorers. Justin Golson played outstanding.”

Gordon’s 22 points included a 12-for-12 effort from the free-throw line. Contributing Writer

In its quest for an elusive Southwestern Buckeye League title, Brookville

High School boys basketball coach Jeff Davidson likened his program to “a little fish in a big pond.”

Opponents are the ones needing a b igger boat.

Brookville owns the SWBL’s biggest fish.

Senior Jacob Gudorf, a

6-foot-3 point guard with 81 career varsity games and 61 starts, is a vital part why the

Blue Devils, ranked No. 6 in the Division III state poll, are alone atop the Southwestern Division standings.

Brookville, 12-1 overall and

6-1 in the SWBL, last won a league title in 1990.

“He’s a matchup nightmare and if he’s making his perimeter shot he’s nearly unguardable,” Davidson said.

“He’s as versatile a player as

I’ve coached.”

Gudorf ranks in the top up an extra defender and three in the SWBL in total then drop it off for a lay-up points (194), rebounds (89) – I’m going to do that every and steals (39). It’s his lead time.” in assists that’s extraordiGurdorf has done that nary. He averages a league- m ore than anyone in best 7.5 per game. Preble Br ookvill e history. He Shawnee’s Samuel Agee is became the program’s allsecond at 4.9. time assist leader with eight

“He’s almost too selfish by in the Blue Devils’ lone loss at being too unselfish,” David- Monroe to surpass the previson said of Gudorf. “He errs ous record of 369 shared by on the side of being a passRitchie Moody and Steve Hinfirst guy and sometimes to his ton. Gudorf has 707 career fault. He’s working through points. that, though, and he makes “He has the best vision of the right decision almost all any player we’ve had,” said the time. I can’t give him Davidson. total credit, but he’s really, Gudorf was MVP of the really good out there.” 56th annual Jet Holiday Tour-

“I’m always trying to make nament at Franklin Monthe right play,” Gudorf said. roe in December when he “That’s what you need from had 47 points, 17 assists, 14 the point guard position. I rebounds and 12 steals in know I have a lot of guys wins over Mississinawa Valon my team that can make ley and FM. In Tuesday’s plays – it’s not just me. If I 75-36 defeat of Eaton, Gudorf can drive the lane and pick recorded his first triple-dou-

BROOKVILLE BOYS BASKETBALL

Jeff Davidson 12-1, 6-1 SWBL Southwestern Sat., at Twin Valley South ble (14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists). He narrowly missed triple-doubles with nine points, nine assists and 12 rebounds against Carlisle and 13 points, nine assists and nine rebounds against Tri-County North.

NCAA Division III and NAIA schools have shown recruiting interest.

“I think any team in the state would be lucky to have him as their point guard,” senior Devvin Hartman, Gudorf’s teammate since elementary school, said. “He has a fantastic basketball IQ. He was pretty far ahead of us in third grade, and he’s stayed there.”

Influenced by his father Dan (who starred at Northmont and coached his son’s Dayton Metro AAU Team), Gurdorf played in 21 games as a freshman as Brookville went 2-10 in the SWBL. Holding a two-game lead in the SWBL, road trips to Franklin and Oakwood and rematches with Bellbrook and Monroe stand between Brookville and history. “We’re striving for that (league title) every day,” Gudorf said. “We’re going to stay hungry.”