That's right. You know you watched it - the ubiquitous live action / animated series featuring those colorful action heroes who more often than not successfully fought off an evil monster or some Zord gone bad.
From Wikipedia – The titular Power Rangers are individuals who "morph" from ordinary people into powerful superheroes…a morphed Ranger generally possesses superhuman strength, durability, and ability in hand-to-hand combat. Rangers regularly operate in teams of five...
In a way, the morphing concept is particularly apt in describing the Northwood Rangers this year. First year coach John Bryan has a true work in process on his hands and is molding a young group of players to fit his system. It is a year of growing pains for the Rangers, who had lost eight straight leading up to this game against the Hawks.
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| Hey, why don't we start with everyone wearing the same colored uni's, OK? |
Any Hawk fan with a reasonably long memory should have much empathy for Coach Bryan’s position.
Assuming the Northwood Power Rangers weren’t going to defy the laws of physics with actual super powers, it looked to be a long night for the guests…
Game Summary
Maumee Valley defeated the Northwood Rangers 63-36 tonight at the Varsity Gym, extending their winning streak to eight games. Nine Hawks scored during the evening, led by Rick Deichert’s 18, Jared Sturt’s 14 and Julius Turner’s 13.
Each of these three played to their strengths tonight. Rick was 4-5 from three point range. Jared was 5-8 from two point range and 4-4 from the line. Julius had seven steals, three 2 balls, two 3 balls and got to the foul line eight times, making five.
The Hawks were also strong tonight from the charity stripe, going 16 for 24, including 11 for their first 12.
Solomon Collins and Caleb Willhight saw their first action tonight for the varsity Hawksquad.
The Blue and White moved to 12-2, 8-1 in the TAAC
First Quarter – MV 21 – NW 10
Starting five – Dave Brown (’13), Rick Deichert (’12), Jared Sturt (’12), Dixon Stoddard (’12) and Julius Turner (’12)
Northwood came out in a 2-3 zone and stayed there most of the evening. MV played man defense all night, and pressed about 20% of the game.
The Hawks came out of the shoot hot with Rick Deichert draining a three to begin the action. NW’s Ricky Hartley answered back with a layup off a screen. Jared scored the next two points off a pass from Rick, and those scores made up the highlight package from the Channel 11/BCSN Friday night report.
Jared picked up his first foul at the 5:10 mark and Dixon entered the game.
After the opening flurry, the scoring pace slowed as MV tried to work off the rust from a seven day layoff. Northwood’s John Segura scored two on another well designed play, then Rick was fouled as he drove to the basket. He made both free throws and during the stoppage, Jared returned to the lineup.
It was 7-4 Hawks when they would make their first run of the game. Julius drove to the basket and dished off to Jared for two. Following a Ranger free throw, Jared and Julius got some strong inside play, with Jared finishing off a Julius pass after an offensive rebound.
Northwood missed their next attempt and Jared was fouled at the other end while shooting – and made both attempts.
After a Ranger timeout, Dave found Rick wide open in the corner for another three pointer. Julius stole the ball again and drove the length of the court where he was fouled and made both ends. It was now 16-4 Hawks.
Northwood’s Trey Cloud made a fade-away jumper to cut the lead by two, but Rick came back with a three-ball which bounced two feet up off the rim then straight down the cylinder. The teams traded two more baskets, including this Rick Deichert runner with time expiring...
...and the half ended with MV up 11.
Coach Robinson urged his team to play better defense around the basket during the time out, feeling that they surrendered too many easy layups. But overall it was a big quarter for the Hawks, Rick leading the way with 13 points, including nine off three pointers.
Second Quarter – MV 15 – NW 6
Starting the Quarter – Rick, Nick Frasco, Julius, Dixon Stoddard and Jonathan Krueger.
Northwood started the scoring with a two point bank shot by John Willey, but Julius countered with a three pointer off a Nick Frasco assist. Julius cut in front of the next Ranger pass and drove down court, looping it to Dixon who was fouled shooting. Stoddard would make one to put the Hawks up by 13 with 5:44 left and with a stoppage in play, Jared and Dave re-entered the game.
MV’s defense rose up to meet Coach Robinson’s challenge on the next play and forced a five second call on an inbounds attempt.
The Hawks continued their strong free throw shooting, with Jared and Dave Brown converting two each on consecutive possessions. The Blue and White made eleven of their first twelve free throws.
With several Hawks coming off the flu earlier in the week and four more games to be played by next Saturday, several players saw extended action on the evening. AJ King and Solomon Collins (in his varsity debut) entered the game inside the 5:00 mark.
MV dominated the inside during the next stretch, as Jared made two on a putback after a missed free throw. Following a score by the Rangers’ John Willey, AJ scored with help from Dave and Julius as seen here:
Jared picked off a Northwood pass next. Off an inbounds play, watch Dave Brown draw the 2-3 zone defenders toward him, opening up AJ King for the trey...
...with this three pointer, and the Hawks led 36-16.
Omar Hazimah came in to close the first half action out, and the home team was up 20.
Julius Turner had a big half defensively with five steals in the first 16 minutes. The Hawks also were 5-11 from three point range, including a 3-4 performance by Rick Deichert.
Third Quarter – MV 15 – NW 15
Starting the Quarter – Dave, Jared, Omar, AJ and Solomon
John Segura scored first for the visitors. MV’s Dave Brown responded with a drive down the middle of the lane for two points:
Northwood’s James Radcliffe nailed a jumper, then the Rangers came back again with a basket by Ricky Hartley + 1, and the lead was cut to 38-25.
In came Rick, Julius and Jonathan and on came another Hawk run.
Rick got to the hoop for two with a strong drive to steady the Hawks’ course. Then the offense began working the ball into Jared.
Northwood’s coach John Bryan yelled out ‘double down’ to his defense in an effort to stop the MV post player. But like an unlucky blackjack player, he could only watch helplessly as Jared dealt the Rangers a two on the play.
Julius continued the Hawks run with another steal and a spinning 360º layup.
Jared scored next in transition:
Julius stole yet another errant Northwood pass and was fouled at the hoop with 2:16 remaining. He made one of two, and the Hawks had torn off a 9-2 run. Thad Woodard entered the game for the home team and MV continued scoring.
Dave Brown drew a foul and made one of two at the 1:38 mark.
Watch the ball movement up top on this next sequence, as Julius sealed the quarter for MV with 40 seconds remaining on this three pointer:
The Hawks had weathered Northwood’s best stretch of the evening and battled back to a draw. At the end of three, it was MV 51 – NW 31
Fourth Quarter – MV 12 – NW 5
Starting the quarter: Dave, Rick, Julius, Thad, Daniel Brandon
Repeating the first quarter opening, Rick started MV off with a three point shot, capping off a 4-5 evening from long range. After a John Segura two pointer for the visitors, Julius was fouled on two straight possessions and cashed in for two points.
Rick then fired a pass inside to a waiting Thad Woodard, who converted his first points of the evening.
...then Dave Brown floated a basket in over the Rangers' outstretched arms...
That start was good enough for Coach Robinson, who substituted Caleb Willhight (in his first varsity action) and Nick Frasco in to finish things off for the home team.
At 1:45, Solomon Collins made a foul-line jumper for his first varsity points.
The game ended with the Hawks ahead 27. Final score, Maumee Valley 63 – Northwood 36.
Final Game Thoughts
For the second game in a row, the Hawks substantially outdistanced their opponents in shots taken by a wide 57-35 margin. Many of these additional chances came from MVs 17 team steals on the night.
Three point shooting was another strength for MV, which went 7-16 from beyond the arc. To score 21 points from two point range in 16 tries, aside from the obvious statistical impossibility, you’d have to make a Jared-esque 65% of your shots. Such is the value of good three-point shooting.
With this long-range accuracy, the Dave at point + Rick/Julius/Jonathan/AJ on the wings combination places tremendous pressure on a 2-3 zone. And if the zone is drawn out or altered to meet this threat, it opens things up for Jared and Dixon underneath – recall Bettsville’s lack of success with the 3-2. This is another emerging offensive combination which will force defenses out of their zones and into man.
Several Northwood underclassmen are seeing significant action down the home stretch of the season. Additionally, the Rangers’ eighth grade boys won the TAAC this year, so there is cause for optimism in 2011-12 for the Blue and Gold.
Small stuff
- The Hawks have a new addition to their team – Haithem Maaiah’s young brother has taken a job as Official Hawks Ball Boy. Watch out for him in eight years.
- As noted above, several Hawks suffered flu-like symptoms during the week, depleting the team so much that the Danbury game was postponed. Thanks to the Lakers for understanding, but they postponed the game on the condition that they could pick the make-up date – and they selected Monday February 14. Speaking of make-up dates, Danbury coach Drew Davie may need to schedule one of those himself with his S.O. for booking a game on Valentine’s Day.
- Northwood has a point guard named Ricky Hartley, so it was a bit confusing to hear both coaches barking out instructions to Ricky during the game.
- The Rangers’ games are broadcast on internet radio – www.wrscradio.com – and those call letters coincidentally bring back good memories for your Hawkblog Editor. WRSC AM 1390 broadcasts over-the-air sports in State College, Pennsylvania.
Not so small stuff
This coming Sunday is seeding day for the boys’ playoffs. MV stands a better than 50/50 chance to be the number one seed in the Rossford Sectional, which includes MV, TC, OH, Northwood, Cardinal Stritch and Bettsville. If MV is seeded number 1, TC and OH would likely play each other first, with the winner having a chance to face the Hawks down the road. Based on the sectional/divisional playoff setup, any rematch between a #1 seeded Hawksquad and the other TAAC contenders would not take place until the District final game (the round of 32).
This is confusing without a bracket to study, so as soon as one is available, I’ll post it.
Scoring
And now for the happy totals. In addition to Rick’s 18, Jared’s 14 and Julius’13, Dave Brown scored 7, AJ King had 5, Thad Woodard and Solomon Collins (his first varsity points) each scored 2 and Omar Hazimah and Dixon Stoddard contributed 1 apiece.
Next up
The basketball extravaganza continues Monday when the Danbury Lakers come to town for a 6pm JV start.
And oh yeah, there’s a little game Tuesday against Ottawa Hills…
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