Bowling Green’s boys have experienced a difficult stretch during the last month.
But even during a six-game losing streak, the Bobcats haven’t forgotten how to work hard and how to
compete.
BG improved its defense and made enough shots in the second half Tuesday for a 53-44 victory over
Northview, the team’s first win since Dec. 9.
Trent Hinton scored a game-high 18 points, and Jackson Stewart and Aaron Donaldson each added 10 for the
Bobcats, who closed the game on a 23-11 run.
“It’s certainly nice to get a win. We’ve had some close ones that got away from us,” said BG coach Mark
Malinowski, whose team has lost three games by four or fewer points.
The Bobcats are 2-7 overall, but 2-2 in the Northern Lakes League where they are 2-0 at home. Northview
is 3-6, 1-3.
“That’s what the guys were focusing on going into tonight, 2-0 at home in the league,” Malinowski said.
“We’ve had good practices and the guys have been focused.”
The Bobcats went ahead for good at 39-36 on Stewart’s driving layup against Northview’s full-court press
with 29.6 seconds left in the third quarter.
But it was Aidan Markey’s hustle which set up the basket. The 5-foot-10 senior dived on the floor for a
loose ball to keep the possession alive for BG.
After a Northview free throw with 5.1 seconds to play, the Bobcats answered with Hinton’s 3-pointer from
the left corner as the period ended for a 42-38 lead.
The Wildcats were still within 44-42 with 5:56 remaining, but the Bobcats scored the next six points to
lead by eight with 3:27 left.
Devon Garcia hit a fallaway jumper from the top of the key, Hinton drove the lane for a layup and Aaron
Donaldson made a baseline jumper for BG. Donaldson’s basket came after another visit to the floor by
Markey, whose hustle for a loose ball saved the possession.
Northview was never closer than six the rest of the way.
The Wildcats twice led by six in first half and BG led by four before the opening 16 minutes ended in a
28-28 tie.
“For a team with one win, I really give our guys credit for their resilience,” Malinowski said. “They’re
letting things go and they just keep on working hard, trying to get better.”
Although Markey had just two points, his hustle and willingness to rebound and contest balls on the floor
played an important role in the win.
“We got some great energy from (Markey),” Malinowski said. “We fed off of that.”
The Bobcats held Northview to 27 points over the final three periods, including 10 in the third quarter
and six in the fourth period.
Northview was 6 of 24 from the field in the second half after going 11 of 16 in the first half.
“The first half, we couldn’t contain them on the dribble and we didn’t let them do that in the second
half,” Malinowski said.
BG shot 20 of 41 from the field, but was 9 of 14 in the second half. Only three of BG’s nine turnovers
came in the second half.
“In the second half, that’s the most patience we have shown offensively the entire year,” Malinowski
said. “That was key for us.”
BG’s junior varsity posted a 51-33 win. Alex Brown led BG with 11 points, while Grant Stierwalt added 10.

BGHS 53, NORTHVIEW 44
NORTHVIEW
Biggs, 1-0—2; Afifi, 4-1-6—17; Bishop, 2-1—5; Jessing, 3-0—6; Fortner, 1-0—2; Rodgers, 0-0—0; Sturt,
1-1—3; Sample, 0-0—0; Sampe, 0-0—0; West, 2-1-0—7; Ritzert, 1-0—2. TOTALS: 15-2-8—44.
BGHS
Stewart, 3-4—10; Hinton, 4-3-1—18; Gardner, 2-2—6; Grieger, 0-0—0; Ludwig, 0-0—0; Garcia, 2-1-0—7;
Markey, 1-0—2; Donaldson, 4-2—10. TOTALS: 16-4-9—53.
NORTHVIEW 17 11 10 6 —44
BGHS 15 13 14 11 —53
Junior varsity: BGHS, 53-44.