Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 133, Number 9, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 27 February 2014 — Page 7

Wilkinson, Zurcher lead Panthers in record-setting rout of Bremen

By Steve Sittler Correspondent NAPPANEE - Jonathan Wilkinson scored 41 points, Zach Zurcher added 25, and both reached the 1,000-point plateau for their careers as the Qass 3A No. 5-ranked North Wood Panther boys' basketball team annihilated Bremen 104-54 in the final home game at The Pit of the 2013-2014 season. The 104 points was a school record, eclipsing the mark set by the 1996-97 squad in a victory over John Glenn, and was the eighth straight win for North Wood which takes a 17-1 record into the final week of the season. Needing 18 points coming in to reach the 1,000point mark, Zurcher scored the first six for North Wood, then watched his classmate Wilkinson score 11 of the next 13 as the Panthers led 19-13 after one period. The scrappy Lions kept things interesting thanks to three treys and some outstanding hustle from their young, inexperienced squad. Bremen hopes died quickly in the second period, however, as the red-hot Wilkinson started a run by draining a three from the volleyball line, his fourth trey of the night. The Panthers went on to outscore the Lions 32-8 in the quarter, with Wilkinson and Zurcher combining for 24 more points (including a perfect six of six from beyond the arc). The highlight of the first half came at the 1:06 mark when Zurcher put back a missed shot for his I,oooth and I,oolst points, prompting a standing ovation from the partisan North Wood crowd as the game was halted to present Zurcher with the milestone ball. Following the halftime Sweetheart festivities, in and, Pakota Mickley, crowned king and queen,, and king candidate Jake Snider lifted the sartorial competence of football

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centers to unprecedented heights, fixe Panthers decided to try to get Wilkinson his I,oooth point in front of the home fans. Needing 40 points coming in and having scored 22 in the opening half, the 6'5" Hillsdale Collegebound Wilkinson had one of the greatest quarters in Panther history, pouring in 19 points on 6 of 8 from the field and 6 of 6 from the line, reaching the 1,000-point milestone at the 1:06 mark of the third quarter on a conventional three-point play. With the Panthers holding a lead of more than 40 points, Wilkinson, Zurcher, and fellow seniors Will Stueve, Kyle McCoy, and Tanner Farmwald immediately exited to a standing ovation as the game was stopped for a second time to present Wilkinson with the ball (which, amusingly, was then temporarily taken away from him to finish the game, as it was the only game ball left in the building). With the Panthers leading 79-33, the fourth quarter could have been anticlimactic but it was not thanks to inspired play from the reserves on both squads. Bremen sophomore Ryan Topper poured in 10 points in the period to counter career highs in varsity points from five different Panthers including Zach Schwartz, Cam Simpson, Vincent Miranda, Travis Bear, and Trent Sellers. A late three by Sellers put the Panthers at the century mark for points on the night, tying the school record and sending the North Wood student section into hysterics, and two free throws by Miranda shattered the mark as North Wood celebrated the lopsided win. In a fitting conclusion to the historic night, a North Wood fan then drained a half-court shot to win $250 (postponed from i halftime, due to the Sweetheart coronation, fagr.-. tivihegjand was promptly mobbed by the delirious Panthers. In addition to his career-

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high 41 points on 14 of 18 shooting (in just 23 minutes of action), Wilkinson also pulled down seven rebounds on what will certainly live on as one of die greatest nights ever at The Pit. Zurcher added 25 points, also in just 23 minutes, and was the only other Panther in double figures, while Simpson scored a career-high nine points and pulled down seven boards in barely 10 minutes of play. Bremen placed four players in double figures, led by 15 from Topper. Freshman Matt Box and sophomore Bryce Cassel had 12 points apiece, while senior Joey Atkins added 11 in the loss. North Wood (17-1) travels to Penn on February 25th to battle the Qass 4A No. 5-ranked Kingsmen (17-1) in a matchup of two of the best teams in the area. The game was a last-minute addition to the schedule after yet another weather cancellation last week. The Panthers conclude the regular season on the road on February 28th against the hapless Whitko Wildcats (1-16). JV Update The North Wood JV team finished out its home schedule in fine style, mauling the Lions 52-37 on the strength of 19 steals. Prince of Thieves Vincent Miranda concluded the home portion of his stellar freshman campaign with 20 points and 9 thefts, while eight other Panthers contributed at least three points, including a career-high four from backup center Nathan Schmitt. The JV squad is 16-2 on the year. □ NORTHWOOD 104, BREMEN 54 At The Pit, Nappanee Bremen 13 21 33 34 North Wood 19 51 79 104 NORTHWOOD (104): Braxton Linville 1 04) 3, Zach Zurcher 9 4-5 25, Vincent Miranda 1 4-4 6, Tanner Farmwald 1 0-02, Chad Sellers 1 0-0 Eqx 1 1-2 3; David iatahnartO 0-00, Jonathan Wilkinson 14 6-6 41, Travis Bear 2 1-1 6, Zach Schwartz 1 1-2 4, Trey Bilinski 0 0-4 0, Cam Simpson 3 1-1 9, Will Stueve 1 002 TOTALS

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Photo by Dale Tobias North Wood fans and players celebrate their record-setting win over Bremen last week.

35 18-25 1041' BREMEN (54): Joey Atkins 4 2-4 11, Matt Box 3 5-12 12, Justin Baker 1 0-0 2, Bryce Cassel 4 2-2 12, Brett Louderback 1 00 2, Ryan Topper 5

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Advance News • Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014

5-7 15, Sam Lacher O 02 0, Austin Adams 0 0-0 0, Chandler Snyder 0 00 0, Alex Adams 0 00 0, Evan Martin 000 0 TOTALS 18 14-27 54 3-Point Goals: North Wood 16

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, . • . • -••• (Wilkinson 7, Zurcher ‘3, ’SimjAftrt 2, Linville, Bear, Schwartz, Sellers); Bremen 4 (Cassel 2, Atkins, Box)