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Balanced offense leads HNHS to sectional win over CC

Deven Newcomb (left), a senior on the Huntington North High School boys’ basketball team, puts up a shot in the paint during a game against Columbia City in the opening round of the Huntington North Sectional on Tuesday, March 3. Newcomb scored 12 points to help lead the Vikings to a 46-44 triumph.
Deven Newcomb (left), a senior on the Huntington North High School boys’ basketball team, puts up a shot in the paint during a game against Columbia City in the opening round of the Huntington North Sectional on Tuesday, March 3. Newcomb scored 12 points to help lead the Vikings to a 46-44 triumph. Photo by Steve Clark.

A balanced offensive effort lifted the Huntington North High School boys’ basketball team to a 46-44 victory over Columbia City in the opening round of the Huntington North Sectional on Tuesday, March 3.

Sam Thompson scored 13 points for Huntington North, Deven Newcomb tallied 12 and Jordan Hollowell and Dominic Cardwell supplied 11 and 10, respectively, to push the Vikings, 9-14, into the sectional semifinals, where they will face New Haven, 16-6, on Friday, March 6, at 6 p.m.

Huntington North was up 30-26 on Columbia City heading into the fourth quarter. After Newcomb, a senior, drained a three-pointer to end the third, the Vikings carried that momentum into the final frame, outscoring the Eagles 7-3 in the first 4:51 to take their biggest lead of the game at 37-29. While Columbia City proceeded to cut into that advantage, reducing it to just 45-44 with 24 seconds remaining, that’s all the closer it would get, as Max Bedwell missed a trey in the game’s waning ticks for the Eagles. The misfire prompted a foul of Hollowell, who hit one of two free throws to bring the game to its final tally.

The Vikings drilled 18 of 32 shots from the field for 56.2 percent. Thompson, a junior, highlighted that effort with a 6 of 8 shooting effort. The hosts added eight points in 14 attempts at the free throw line for 57.1 percent.

Sophomores Zach Hubartt and Austin Oswalt dished out three assists apiece.

Hollowell added a team-best six rebounds to his stat line for Huntington North, which finished with 21 boards to Columbia City’s 22.

The Vikings led 10-7 after the first quarter and 14-12 at halftime.

The Eagles, 10-13, were paced by Mitchell Wilson, who produced 23 points.

Columbia City converted 12 of 36 field goal attempts for 33.3 percent and 15 of 17 freebie tries for 88.2 percent.