Northstars keeps on winning

The Northstars found themselves 6-4 after one of the toughest stretches of their schedule in mid-January. Even though a tough road loss at Ewing capped the string of games versus rivals Hamilton West, Trenton and Ewing, Nottingham was able to at least pull out a four-point win over archrival Hamilton on its home court during the stretch to stay above .500.

“That was important for us,” Perry said. “We’ve been doing okay. We’re doing everything we can to make the playoffs.”

The Northstars also gave a good showing at Tornado Alley, where they only lost to a top-notch Trenton team by 10 points.

If that is truly the case, then Nottingham should be fine as March Madness nears as its game at Ewing proved.

“Pete Kelly had a phenomenal game,” Perry said. “We just couldn’t execute when we needed to. Turnovers killed us.”

The Northstars finished with 29 turnovers, mostly in the second half, which turned out to be deadly in a game which the visitors only trailed, 27-24, at intermission.

Matt Joiner, a 6-foot-4 junior swingman, added 11 points for Nottingham, but with no one taller than Joiner, the Northstars had trouble containing Ewing’s 6-foot-5 ½ big man Stephen Shimko, who finished with 16 points to tie for the Blue Devils’ scoring lead.

“It’s a tough loss, but this still isn’t a bad showing for us,” Perry said. “They are a very good team. We have to cut down on the turnovers and keep battling and we’ll be okay.”