Preston Crabtree of North Union goes in for a layup as a Benjamin Logan defender attempts to block his shot. Crabtree tallied 29 points during the 71-55 win to bring his career points total to 1,030. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The North Union boys basketball team jumped back on the right path after a close loss to Jonathan Alder earlier this week.
The Wildcats turned in a winning performance against Central Buckeye Conference division opponent Benjamin Logan on Friday to remain at the top of the Mad River Division with a 4-0 record.
The Wildcats can credit their 71-55 win to Preston Crabtree, who buried seven three-point goals on his way to 29 points.
Crabtree was recognized prior to the start of Friday’s game for reaching a career milestone of 1,000 points during the JA game.
The senior was feeling the groove against the Raiders as he opened the game with a trey.
Coach Brian Terrill said it was the type of game Crabtree needed.
“He has had a lot of tough luck,” said Terrill. “A lot of shots have gone in and out.
“It has been tougher for him to get a lot of open looks because he has been guarded so heavy, but he got a lot of good looks tonight.”
Crabtree notched a second trey in the opening quarter and was joined by Aaron Krebehenne, who also drained a pair from beyond the arc .
Terrill said his big guys did a great job of giving the Wildcat shooter time.
“Our screens were better in our sets, so he (Crabtree) was getting better looks and was making them pay,” he said.
The solid shooting allowed NU to jump out to a 20-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second period saw more of the same from Crabtree.
He dialed in from long distance to sink four three-pointers.
Freshmen Mason Bright an Nolan Draper also found the bottom of the basket from three-point land to help NU take a 44-27 lead at the turn.
Terrill believed the Wildcats not only shot and screened well against the Raiders, but just ran a solid offensive game.
“I thought we did a pretty good job of running our offense,” he said. “We ran almost every play in the book tonight and it worked out pretty well.”
The Wildcats turned to their bigs – Zach Vernon and Hudson Davis – to find the bottom of the basket in the second half.
Vernon, who had four points going into the third quarter, scored four more to help keep the Raiders at bay.
Davis also went to work off the bench and picked up five points as NU stretched its lead to 58-38.
Terrill credits Friday’s win to the losses the Cats have had this season.
“The Fairbanks loss helped us realize we are not invincible,” he said. “The Jonathan Alder loss was a tough opponent at a high level that showed us how good we can be.
“I think that gave us the confidence to come out and get back at it.”
The fourth quarter was only a formality.
The Cats held their ground at the charity stripe, going six-for-nine down the stretch for the win.
North Union now stands at 9-2 for the season and will return to action today when they make the trip to CBC opponent Northwestern.
North Union
Crabtree 10-2-29, Vernon 5-2-12, Krebehene 3-2-11, H. Davis 2-4-8, Bright 1-0-3, O. Davis 0-3-3, Draper 1-0-3, Feasel 0-2-2. Totals: 22-15-71
Three-point goals: Crabtree 7, Krebehenne 3, Bright 1, Draper 1.
Benjamin Logan
Arn 3-5-11, Stahler 4-0-11, Vance 4-1-9, Fahle 3-0-8, Burrey 2-0-5, Allen 2-0-4, Hunt 1-0-3, Jacobs 1-0-2, Munz 1-0-2. Totals: 21-6-55
Three-point goals: Stahler 3, Fahle 2, Burrey 1, Hunt 1.