Trevyn Feasel (3) of North Union leaps for a jump shot with a Tecumseh defender attempting to block the shot. Feasel picked up 13 points in the Wildcats’ 62-59 victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
When you are on a 15-game winning streak, you know you have the skill and talent to win games.
For the North Union boy’s basketball team, it comes down to being mentally ready to play.
The Wildcats have been facing teams throughout their season with lesser records that want nothing more than to derail their perfect season, said NU head coach Brian Terrill.
“This was their Super Bowl,” he said.
Tuesday’s game against Tecumseh was just that as the 4-13 Arrows came to Richwood with a mission to hand North Union its first loss.
They nearly did as the Cats escaped with a 62-59 win.
North Union made a strong push off the tip. It picked up five points, thanks to Harley Day and Joel Krebehenne.
The Wildcats were able to work the scoreboard to take a solid lead over the Arrows before Tecumseh started to make some headway against the Cats effective press.
North Union, however, held on for a 19-11 lead at the end of the first set.
The Arrows started chipping away at their eight-point deficit ,thanks to a pair of treys by Even Parker.
The Wildcats struggled to convert, going 0-5 from beyond the arc.
Trevyn Feasel took the torch for the Cats and picked up six of the Wildcats’ nine points in the quarter.
North Union took a slim 28-27 lead into the half.
Terrill said his team just lost some mental energy after climbing to a solid lead.
“A lot of it has to do with energy and us being ready to go at the start of the game,” he said. “I thought we started well tonight, but we kind of relaxed when we got ahead of them by eight or ten.
“We took our foot off the pedal.”
The Wildcats continued their press to open the third quarter, but the Arrows were able to swing the ball around the NU defense.
This led to some solid shooting for Tecumseh, which found Seth Hale underneath the basket for six points.
North Union shared the ball around as six different shooters picked up points.
It still wasn’t enough as the two sides enter the fourth quarter deadlocked at 42-42.
With the threat of a loss looming over the Cats’ heads, they got to work with the ball. Preston Crabtree picked up a pair of three-pointers, while Day found his rhythm in the lane for five points.
Terrill said a defensive change in the final stanza helped NU.
“We had to make an adjustment in the fourth quarter and it was key,” he said. “We changed the depth of the press to almost half court and it seemed to knock them out of their rhythm.”
With time running thin, North Union started passing the ball around to maintain possession.
Tecumseh sent NU to the free throw line.
The Wildcats were able to pick up two of five attempts, but it was enough to keep Tecumseh at bay.
Terrill said these are the kinds of game he wants to play as the tournament season approaches.
“We took care of the end game and we found a way to win,” he said. “Games like this make you better and ready for tournaments more than a 30-point win.”
The Wildcats will move on to their next challenge, which is Indian Lake. The Lakers only trail the Cats by a game in the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division.
Terrill said at this point of the season, records don’t matter for the Cats. Every team is going to give them its best shot.
“There is a reason why only three or four teams in the state of Ohio in each division go undefeated and we are finding that out right now,” he said. “It is tough because the odds are so high against you.”
The Wildcats will return to action Friday with a home game against the Lakers.
North Union
Day 6-2-14, Feasel 6-1-13, Crabtree 4-0-12, Davis 4-0-8, Vernon 3-0-6, Terrill 2-0-5, J. Krebehenne 1-1-4. Totals 26-4-62.
Three-point goals: Crabtree 4, Terrill 1, J. Krebehenne 1
Tecumseh
Lewis 7-1-16, Parker 5-0-14, Hale 6-1-13, O’Conner 3-3-10, Dysneger 1-0-3, Toops 1-0-3. Totals 23-5-59.
Three-point goals: Parker 4, Lewis 1, O’Conner 1, Dysneger 1, Toops 1