Northridge boys overpower Heath with size, experience, physicality
HEATH ― Northridge senior Zach Holder missed last season with injury, and is quickly making up for lost time.
Classmate Ian Travis hasn’t been able to play much since the spring, and he’s catching up, too.
The seasoned Vikings are already showing signs of putting it all together, and it was on full display Saturday on the road as they blitzed youthful Heath 43-21 over the final three quarters of a 58-35 Licking County League-Cardinal Division win.
“We all work together so well, and when everyone stepped up and pressured the ball out front, we were able to help off in the passing lanes and create turnovers,” said the 6-foot-3 Holder, a soccer star who led a second-quarter defensive charge that forced the Bulldogs (2-2, 1-2) into seven second-quarter turnovers en route to a 31-17 halftime lead. He had two steals and two rebounds during a decisive 17-2 run.
“Zach brings a lot of energy, and we’re glad to have him back this year,” said senior post Justin Townley, a three-year starter who scored 17 points and snagged 10 rebounds. “He’s a strong player, and a scorer,” Townley said.
Northridge (4-0, 3-0) has scorers in abundance, as junior Carter Mallernee, who has shot up to 6-foot-3, again led the way with 21 points and three steals, while 6-4 junior Ethan Payne chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds. But it was the Vikings’ defense which set the tone Saturday, allowing the Bulldogs to attempt just five second-quarter shots after they drilled a trio of first-quarter 3s, including a pair by junior Will Robertson, and took a 15-14 lead.
“It was a different challenge defending Heath. They came in with 40-some 3-pointers and only 20-some 2-pointers,” coach Bill Mallernee said. “So we were focused on taking away the 3s, and we did a good job on them.”
“It all starts on defense, and we were just getting up into them,” Townley said.
Travis, a versatile 6-5 player and four-year starter, didn’t start Saturday, but triggered a 14-0 second-quarter surge with a pair of assists inside to Payne. He didn’t score but had three assists as he works his way back from double hernia surgery.
Coach Mallernee said Travis has basically been out since April, playing a little AAU ball, before his problem was finally diagnosed. “I’ve played with him since we were like 6, and it’s nice to have him back,” Holder said. “It’s huge,” added Townley. “He’s such a threat off the dribble.”
Carter Mallernee scored off his steal and one of Holder’s takeaways, made two foul shots and found Holder for a 3 from the right wing just ahead of the halftime buzzer. Townley had six points in both the second and third quarters, scoring on drives to the basket, rebounds and post moves as the Vikings extended their lead.
“I’m just trying to finish better and be strong with the ball,” Townley said.
Drew Bingham contributed three assists as Northridge hit a sizzling 24-of-40 from the field for 60 percent and held a 22-14 rebounding margin on the smaller Bulldogs.
It was Carter Mallernee’s third consecutive game over 20 points. “He’s picked up his scoring, but really, we’ve been preaching about being more balanced,” coach Mallernee said. “Our offense is fine, but defense and rebounding are going to be the keys,” Townley said.
Heath coach Devin Fulk, who has only one senior and started a freshman, sophomore and three juniors, said it’s evident that Northridge is a veteran group that has all the ingredients to be successful. Junior Ben Mason led the Bulldogs with 12 points, while sophomore Jaxon Duston had four assists and 6-5 junior Zach Inbody grabbed five rebounds.
“They (Northridge) have size, they’re physical and strong, with good guards and big guys who can score inside,” Fulk said. “They have it all. Right now, we’re just too young and too weak, to hang with teams who get physical with us. We don’t have anyone who can create anything off the dribble. Granville and Northridge, back-to-back, were not ideal for us. We’ll just have to decide what to do from here.” But the Bulldogs do own a 63-62 win against Utica, which Saturday handed Johnstown its first league loss.
Heath finished 14-of-38 from the floor for 37 percent, including just 7-of-25 the second half for 28 percent.
Coach Mallernee said Northridge still has plenty of room for improvement.
“We have to be smarter defensively and make good decisions,” he said. “We have to concentrate on the mental side of things. We have a couple of good tests coming up, with Watterson and Chillicothe.”
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