Northside Foxes stay unbeaten in Division 2
Nine games, nine wins, and a points difference no one else is close to.
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4 min read
For twenty minutes on Wednesday night this looked like the game that would end Old Mill's run at the top of Division 1. Harbour Saints shot 58% in the first half, got out in transition off every long rebound, and went into the break nine points up with the crowd behind the wrong basket.
Then the Rockets changed one thing, and the game turned inside four minutes.
The third quarter
Coach Vrba switched the defensive assignment on Marcus Farid who had 19 at the half from a single cover to a hard hedge on every screen, forcing the ball out of his hands above the arc. Farid took two shots in the third quarter. Both were contested. Neither went in.
The Rockets scored on nine of their next eleven possessions, all of them off a defensive stop, and closed the quarter on a 19–4 run that flipped a nine-point deficit into a six-point lead.
What made it hold was that nothing changed in the fourth. Harbour got the deficit back to four with six minutes left and never got closer.
What the bench did
Jalen Osei finished with 24 points and 9 rebounds and will get the headline, as he usually does. The more interesting line belongs to the three players who came off the bench: eleven points, four assists, and not one turnover in fourteen combined minutes.
That matters more than it sounds. Old Mill's bench averaged 3.2 turnovers a game through the first five weeks, and two of their three losses last season traced back to a stretch where the starters sat and the lead disappeared. On Wednesday the lead grew by four while they were on the floor.
Bench Impact Analysis
In the recent game, the bench players not only maintained the lead but also showcased their potential. Among them, Marcus Hill contributed 6 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds, demonstrating his growing confidence. Additionally, Sarah Kim provided a spark with 5 points and solid defensive efforts, helping to limit the opponent's scoring during crucial minutes. Their collective performance highlights a turning point for a bench that has often been under scrutiny.
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, Coach Thompson is optimistic about the bench's development. With consistent contributions like those seen in the last match, there is a renewed belief that the bench can not only support the starters but also become a reliable scoring option. Future games will reveal if this trend continues, potentially leading to a more dynamic and flexible team strategy.
