Sylvania Northview’s girls basketball team used its length and speed to cause 29 Bowling Green turnovers
Friday as the Bobcats dropped a Northern Lakes League game 66-45.
Northview, which is loaded with three NCAA Division I signees, jumped to a 15-4 lead with 3:15 left in
the first quarter and commanded the lead the rest of the game.
“I’m impressed by their team and how solid they are. Their coach has them playing hard in their trapping
defense and it gave us fits,” said BG coach Jeff Nichols.
BG, 0-2 overall and in the NLL, committed 18 of its turnovers in the first half. Northview, (3-0, 2-0)
had 14 turnovers in the game.
The Wildcats are heavy favorites to win the NLL.
“Even though we have some seniors, we do have some inexperience with our guards,” Nichols said.
“We knew at the beginning of the season we were going to struggle and that we would hit some bumps.
Against a good team like that, they are going to expose that.”
Northview trapped full-court for much of the game, which gave the Wildcats a 34-16 lead headed into
halftime.
As efficient as the Wildcats’ defense was, their offense was also high-powered.
Northview had three players in double-digit scoring: Kendall McCoy, 19 points; Kendall Jessing, 14
points; and Maddie Fries, 11 points.
Bowling Green State University signee Maddie Cole added eight points and seven rebounds.
For BG, Tyanna Smith had 16 points and Livvy Dill had 10.
In the second half, BG limited its turnovers and created more opportunities on offense, but it was too
little, too late.
BG outscored Northview 15-7 in the fourth quarter.
“We played a better second half than we did in the first half, but against a team like that, you can’t
spot them 20-something points and expect to win,” Nichols said.
Northview also won the junior varsity game, 48-19. Cailyn Overhulse had seven points for the Bobcats.