| Ohio's # 1 team delivers the Country's #1 team their first loss in 44 games The magnitude of the match-up between Findlay Prep (NV) and Northland High School was unbelievable. If ESPN is covering your game live, then that tells is all. From Findlay Prep you have prep star powers like Tristan Thomson (# 11 ESPN Fab 50, Texas), Corey Joseph (# 30 ESPN Fab 50), Nick Johnson (#24 c/o 2011) and Jabari Brown (# 58 c/o 2011). On the Vikings side you had (# 2 ESPN Fab 50, Ohio State), and J.D. Weatherspoon (Ohio State commit). A classic in the making. Northland started the game with a slight disadvantage because of J.D. Weaherspoon not being able to play because of a sprained ankle. Who would step up in his place? The game started off as a defensive battle. The Vikings came out with more energy than the Pilots. The crashed the boards and kept tight pressure on their guards. It was a relatively low scoring first quarter for both teams with Northland leading after one, 15-10. As if Northland didn't keep enough pressure on Findlay Prep in the opening quarter, they applied even more in the second. Albeit the Pistols were missing wide open shots from the perimeter, the Vikings tenacity carried them. Findlay prep was help to a season low 5 points in the second quarter. Northland's Jared Sullinger scored 16 of the teams 29 first half points, not to add into the fact the he owned the boards also. With a 14 point lead going into the third, many wondered how Findlay would respond with this not being the norm for them. They came out with the same energy that Northland did in the opening. It was a total 180 from what we saw in the beginning of the game. As Northland struggled to produce any offense or knock down any shots, Findlay Prep capitalized on the miscues and brought the deficit to within 5 points at the end of the third. After a 17-4 run carrying over from the third quarter to the final period, the Pilots took a 44-41 lead. From there both teams battled back and forth. Even though Findlay was ranked as the top team in the nation, there is also a reason why Jared Sullinger by many is regarded as one of the top big men in the country. He took over late and just as he did 9 months ago in the state title game against Princeton, he sealed the victory by making two free throws at the end. Jared finished with 32 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Who's next? David J. Henderson Writer/Photographer/Videographer/Media personnel |
