North Union’s Nolan Draper (1) drives against an opponent during a game against Graham. The Wildcats won their 13th game of the season.
(Photo submitted)
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The final touch happens when the basketball finds its way into the bottom of the net.
But in most cases, other things have to happen to allow the points to be added to the count.
North Union was able to do that for a good part of its Central Buckeye Conference against Graham on Friday at North Union.
Jumping out to the early lead, the Wildcats rolled to a 68-32 victory.
“We’ve been doing it with our defense most of the season, but especially in the second half of the season,” NU head coach Ryan Grose said. “Everything starts with our defense, allowing us to play at the pace we want.”
“Our press opens it up to be able to play the way we want,” junior guard Tyler Krebehenne said. “It is a mindset we have and we are able to take advantage.”
Another part of the puzzle is when the Wildcats get in their offensive mode they are looking for each other.
“They are doing the right things and finding easier shots,” Grose said. “It is fun to play that way and make the right decisions and that starts with our defense.”
The Wildcats’ first-quarter play exemplifies what Grose is seeing from his team.
NU scored on 10 of its 13 field goals attempts and six of the baskets came with a helper from a teammate.
Graham was forced into six turnovers and after each one the Wildcats scored points.
The end result was a 28-8 lead after the first eight minutes.
The Wildcats got the opening tip and Nolan Draper connected on the first of five three-point goals NU made.
That sparked an 11-0 run that included layups from Rylan Keever, Mason Bright and Krebehenne.
Graham closed the gap to 13-4, but Max Parish tallied a rebound basket.
Bright scored twice from behind the arc to make the score 21-4 with 2:43 left in the stanza.
The Falcons later trailed 23-8 and the Wildcats finished with a five-point run.
Draper sank a pair of free throws and Parish beat the buzzer with a fade-away, three-point goal.
A second trey from Draper and a steal and layup by Miles Hall bumped the count to 34-8.
A three-point play by Krebehenne had the Wildcats leading 39-13.
Keever’s layup with 14 seconds gave North Union a 41-16 lead into the intermission.
The Wildcats continued their up-tempo pace during in the third quarter on their way to a 59-26 lead.
Draper, Hall and Krebehenne each hit three-point goals, Keever notched a three-point play and Parish followed a steal with a dunk.
Draper connected for a fourth three-point goal in the final quarter as North Union upped its overall record to 13-3.
The Cats are 5-2 in the CBC.
Draper was one of three NU players to reach double figures. He had 16 points, while Krebehenne counted 14 and Parish totaled 13.
As the regular season moves toward a conclusion, North Union is hoping to be part of the championship battle with Indian Lake and Shawnee,
Both are ahead of North Union in Mad River Division.
The Wildcats lost to both schools earlier in the season and have each of them remaining on the schedule.
“We can’t go back so we are in a position to need help,” Grose said. “But none of that matters if we don’t take care of our own business.”
Graham won the junior varsity game 36-32.
Nickolas Hajjar paced the Wildcats with 12 points.
North Union
Draper 5-2-16, Keever 3-3-9, Parish 5-2-13, Bright 3-1-9, Krebehenne 6-1-14, Hall 3-0-7. Three-point goals: Draper 4, Bright 2, Parish, Krebehenne, Hall.
Graham
Reisinger 4-1-10, Jenkins 2-2-7, Ford 3-1-7, Strader 2-0-4, Smith 0-2-2, McLean 1-0-2. Three-point goals: Reisinger, Jenkins.