Sullinger leads Columbus Northland over Findlay Prep

Published on: 18th December, 2009

Westerville, OH –

Christmas came a little early this year for the Columbus Northland Vikings (OH), as they prevailed 53-52 in a nail biter against #1 ranked Findlay Prep (NV) at the Rike athletic center on the campus of Otterbein College.

Northland was lead by their All-American, 2010, 6-foot-8, do-it-all forward, Jared Sullinger’s 32 points and 17 rebounds. Sullinger who’s already signed in the early period with Ohio State, did not disappoint the near crowd of 3,500, as he displayed numerous leaning power moves along with a monster tomahawk dunk in the first quarter to set the tone for the Vikings. The Vikings and Sullinger were without there other OSU signee, 6-foot-6,2010,SF JD Weatherspoon, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.

The Vikings lead 15 to 10 at the end one quarter of play and pulled that lead to 14 points with a 29-15 lead at the half– all while holding Findlay Prep to only 5 points in the second quarter. 6-foot-3, 2011, SG, Nick Johnson was in foul trouble in the second quarter, which allowed Northland’s young guard play to take advantage of the situation. Johnson who’s a dead eye shooter finished the night with 14 points, including a couple deep balls.

Findlay Prep came out of the gates with fury in the 3rd stanza outscoring Northland 20 to 10 with the help of southpaw Tristan Thompson (Texas) and 2010, 6-foot-2,Guard Corey Joseph’s two-man ball screen game, as they were down only by four points 39-35 after 3 quarters of play.

The 6-foot-10,2010 Thompson was a beast all night, as he finished with left and right hooks in the lane and even displayed the ability to beat defenders off the bounce from the high post. His shot was flat early on in the first half, but he pulled himself together and fought for position on the interior, as he ended the night with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Joseph could not say the same thing as he capped of with only 8 points (12 below his season average of 20) and 4 rebounds.

The 4th quarter was a Heavyweight dog fight between Sullinger and Thompson, both party’s getting endless post entry’s as they went back and forth on the blocks. Findlay Prep took the lead 52-51 with 11 seconds left on the clock, as Joseph hit a turnaround elbow jumper to force Northland into a special situation play. Northland in-bounded the ball to their old-faithful (Sullinger), who took the ball the length of the floor up the left sideline, as he attacked from the left wing a blocking foul was called on Thompson with only 4 ticks left on the clock. Thompson fouled out – - and put Findlay in the double bonus giving Sullinger the opportunity to ice the game. The 6-foot-8, 265 pound senior sunk both shots at the line giving Northland the lead and the scent of victory.  Findlay got a chance to win the game with 1.7 ticks on the clock with a sideline out of bounds play, but Jospeh’s desperation heave clanged off the side of the glass and Northland escaped with a 1 point victory.

Northland improves to 2-0 on the season with this victory, while Mike Peck’s Findlay Prep falls to 12-1 and ends a 40+ game winning streak.

Box Score:

Findlay Prep: 10-5-20-17 –52
Northland: 15-14-10-14 –53

Players Stats (Click on Link)

Readers Comments