Panthers deny Indians

By JERRY ORR/Staff

Rural Retreat couldn’t handle Northwood’s full-court pressure as the Panthers kept the Indians winless in boys’ basketball play Friday.
The game was close for a little over a quarter before the home team took advantage of turnovers and pulled away. Northwood went on to capture a 69-43 Hogoheegee District victory.
The Panthers honored their six seniors at their last regular-season game, and three of them responded with double-figure scoring nights. Chris Robinson led the way with 17 points, with Zach Roberts supplying 15 and StevenEarly Spence 11.
Junior post player J.C. Crockett scored a game-high 18 points for Rural Retreat.
The Indians were within 20-15 in the second quarter before sophomore Jeremiah Thompson canned a three-pointer and followed that with a two-pointer after a steal to give Northwood a double-digit advantage.
The lead grew to 41-23 at halftime, and the Panthers led 62-32 entering the last eight minutes.
In breaking a three-game losing streak, Northwood improved to 4-6 in the Hogoheegee and 9-13 overall.
The Panther junior varsity won 43-38 to wind up 5-5 in the district and 11-8 overall.

RURAL RETREAT (43)
Dix 2, Reasor 4, Crockett 18, Harmon 6, Whalen 7, Vaught 0, Huffard 6, Rhodes 0.
NORTHWOOD (69)
Frye 6, Robinson 17, Spence 11, Delp 5, Roberts 15, Jordan 0, Combs 3, Thompson 7, Hagen 5, O’Bier 0.

Rural Retreat 12 11 9 11—43
Northwood 20 21 21 7—69
3-point goals – Northwood 4 (Spence, Delp, Roberts, Thompson). JV – Northwood 43-38.