Friday night, Mishawaka (11-5) traveled to NorthWood (18-1) for each teams’ final NIC contest of the year.

 

Friday was NorthWood’s senior night, and Chaz Yoder knocked down an early three-pointer for the Panthers. However, junior power forward Ian Raasch dominated the rest of the first quarter for NorthWood. He collected six offensive rebounds in the first period on his way to ten points.

 

NorthWood led 15-7 after one.

 

Mishawaka took a page from Raasch in the second quarter and hit the offensive glass. Brady Fisher grabbed three offensive rebounds in the first half. The extra shots helped the Cavemen get back into the game. Arthur Jones nailed two three-pointers to pull Mishawaka within two possessions. Sophomore Rasaunn Johnson also played a big part in the resurgence.

 

The Panthers led 25-21 at the half, with star guard Cade Brenner going 1-8 from the field for four points plus two fouls.

 

Brenner opened the second half scoring with a finger roll from the left to extend NorthWood’s lead. It looked like the Panthers could pull away, but the Cavemen had other ideas. After Rasauun Johnson scored an and-one, Mishawaka led 28-27.

 

Following Brenner’s bucket, NorthWood went nearly five minutes without scoring. Finally, Raasch ended the drought with a bucket in the lane. However, the Panthers could not get the offense on track as Brenner saw shot after shot rim out, and Mishawaka kept Raasch away from the offensive glass after the first quarter. Brenner was just 3-17 from the field through three quarters.

 

Brendan Williams scored for Mishawaka to close the third-quarter scoring. That gave the Cavemen a 34-32 advantage.

 

Yoder splashed a three-pointer a minute into the final period to give NorthWood the lead. Then, 90 later, NiTareon Tuggle walked into a top-of-the-key three-pointer to put the Panthers up 38-34. As the NorthWood defense continued to get stops, Brenner finally found an opening on the other for a layup. Suddenly, NorthWood led 40-34.

 

Mishawaka did not shoot well, but the Cavemen battled. Down six, Mookie Ward drilled a three-pointer to give Mishawaka life, but the iron was unkind to the Cavemen the rest of the way. Mishawaka only scored five points in the final 4:15 of the game.

 

NorthWood did not score a field goal after Brenner converted in the lane with four minutes left, but the Panthers made seven free throws. Brenner and Raasch made seven of nine shots from the charity stripe down the stretch.

 

3A number one NorthWood escaped with the 49-42 senior night victory.

 

Raasch finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Brenner was just 5-21 from the field but 6-8 from the free-throw line for 17 points, four steals, and three rebounds. Yoder tallied six points and three rebounds. Cooper Wins ended with two points, three rebounds, and three assists. Tuggle recorded five points, three rebounds, and two steals in 13 minutes.

 

Jones led Mishawaka with 12 points. Johnson added nine points and six rebounds, while Tommy Harringer tallied six points and seven rebounds. Brady Fisher recorded four points, nine rebounds, and two assists. Cooper Pritchett had four points and five rebounds. Ward notched three points, two rebounds, and three assists.

 

NorthWood (19-1) plays Tippecanoe Valley on Tuesday. Mishawaka (11-6) faces South Bend Adams on Tuesday.