MIDDLEBURY — It was a night to remember for Northridge and a night that Plymouth would like to forget as the Raiders came out red hot and never cooled in an 89-49 win over the Pilgrims.
Northridge’s Trevor Brown set the tone for the game literally seconds after the opening tip taking a pass deep in the corner and burying a three almost before the few fans had taken a seat. The Raiders would hit three more threes before Plymouth would get their first shot. They ended the night hitting 23 from beyond the arc as a team.
“They played at a very high-level tonight. They shot it well,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Bales. “We have to give them all the credit.”
There was a lot of credit to go around as in the first quarter barrage by Northridge Carter Stoltzfus hit three of his game-high eight threes to go with four by Sam Smith, a pair by Brown, and one from Clay Stoltzfus. The Raiders scored 30 of their 36 first-quarter points on shots behind the arc.
Stoltzfus had a night that most players dream about scoring 27 points and distributing the ball from the point guard slot in the Northridge offensive barrage. Smith was the recipient of some of that distribution hitting seven threes of his own on the night on the way to 24 points.
“They find each other well. We knew that coming in,” said Bales. “We were hoping they would have an off night. You factor in our inability to take care of the ball, which obviously gave them some more possessions.”
As good as the Raider shooting was the defense was every bit as good forcing 10 first-quarter turnovers and leaving a shell shocked Plymouth team back on their heels for much of the first half.
“Early turnovers led to their (Northridge) confidence,” said Bales. “They did a great job. We have to do a better job of preparing our guys. We didn’t look very prepared tonight and obviously, that falls on me.”
Plymouth got 13 points from Easton Strain and nine from Nolan Bales. Davis Wray had seven points and Michael Sheely had seven and four rebounds off the bench in the fourth quarter.
Plymouth 2-14 on the year and returns home to take on Goshen on Thursday. Northridge is now 10-4.
•NORTHRIDGE 89, PLYMOUTH 49
At Northridge
Plymouth 4 19 32 49
Northridge 36 52 76 89
Plymouth (49) — Weidner 1 1-2 3, Bales 3 0-0 9, Yoder 1 0-0 2, Wray 2 2-2 7, Strain 6 1-1 13, Feece 2 0-0 4, Aker 0 2-2 2, Mills 1 0-0 2, Sheely 2 3-3 7. Totals 14 9-10 49.
Northridge (89) — Brown 2 0-0 6, Carter Stoltfus 9 1-2 27, Clay Stoltfus 4 0-0 14, Mack 2 0-0 6, Smith 7 3-4 24, Miller 1 0-0 3, Ryman 2 0-0 4, Steiner 1 0-0 2, Jacobs 3 0-1 6. Totals 31 4-7 89.
