Published Friday, December 12, 2008

Vikings sweep Wildcats in doubleheader

By Stuart Crosby

The Newnan Times-Herald

FAYETTEVILLE — Northgate’s boys basketball team might have had Friday’s game at Whitewater circled in red on its schedule — especially after suffering a 25-point loss to the Wildcats to open the season.

In their official Region 5-AAAA-A opener, the Vikings made up for the earlier loss in a 51-35 road victory, taking command from the opening period and continuing to make strides defensively.

“We played good team basketball,” said Vikings head boys coach Mack Cain. “Anytime you can hold a team to 35 points, you’re doing a pretty good job defensively.”

The win capped off a Northgate sweep on Friday, after the Lady Vikings opened the night with a 46-42 win over the Lady Wildcats behind a double-double from junior center Alise Lewis.

The Vikings (4-3, 1-0) have made a quick turnaround since giving up 69 points to open the season, having not allowed 50 points in a game since then. The win was Northgate’s third in its last four games, with the lone loss a 5-point decision against McIntosh on Tuesday.

While Friday’s boys victory was the first in four tries against Region 5-AAAA opponents, it was the first to count in the subregion standings. Brandon Hopkins led the Vikings with 19 points. Marquis Mobley added 13 while Daniel Hawkins had 10 rebounds and five points in the win.

Lewis was just as impressive in the girls contest, leading a second-half charge with 12 points and 17 rebounds while adding five blocks for Northgate girls head coach Matt Trucks, whose team stared down an 11-point halftime deficit.

The reason for the surge was simple, according to Trucks.

“We woke up,” he said.

Sophomore guard Brianna Banks led the Lady Vikings with 15 points, as both teams look to add to their Region 5-AAAA success today against B-subregion opponent, Mays at home.