Shots were tough to fall for the Northside Grizzlies in Friday’s rivalry game against Southside.

However, the Grizzlies were on target at the free-throw line, and it helped them stave off a late Maverick rally.

Northside converted 16 foul shots in the fourth quarter, and senior guard Isaiah Joe was a perfect 17-of-17 from the free-throw line, as the Grizzlies survived Southside, 66-61, in 7A-Central action at the Stubblefield Center on the UAFS campus.

“You’ve got to give Southside credit, they played a heck of a game (Friday) and they pushed us to the limit,” Northside assistant coach Greg Scott said. “I’ve got to say, I’m proud of my guys, we were able to withstand Southside’s push and we were able to finish the game.”

The Grizzlies (14-6, 5-1) only made 27 percent of their field goals, and went 2-of-20 from 3-point range. Northside’s leading scorer, senior point guard Isaiah Joe, was also held to two points in the first half and didn’t make his first field goal until after the midway point of the third quarter.

Still, the Grizzlies were able to overcome an early 15-6 deficit, as well as a 10-point hole early in the second quarter to take the lead right before halftime. After trailing briefly in the opening minutes of the second half, Northside went back in front, and was able to build a 10-point advantage by the end of the third.

Junior Anthony Travis and sophomore Noah Gordon were a big reason the Grizzlies were able to stay the course. They combined to score 27 points, and they each had one of Northside’s three made field goals in the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well (Friday). ... But it shows the character of this team because we were able to find other ways to score than the 3-ball,” Scott said. “I thought Boo (Travis) just came out with some toughness and he put us on his back. ... He helped us find ways to score around the basket. Noah went 8-for-11 from the free throw line and hit a big 3 that first half. ... He came in and gave us a lot of energy off the bench.”

Travis’ fourth-quarter basket came at a key juncture with more than six minutes remaining, as Northside was hanging on to a 46-41 lead while the Mavericks (10-10, 2-4) had just made a defensive stop by getting a rebound. But Travis promptly grabbed the ball away from the Maverick player near the basket and stuck the ball through the net for a 48-41 advantage.


“I missed a shot, and I saw the ball (get rebounded) and I had to get it,” Travis said. “I had to get it and I got it and threw it back up and it went in.

“We started off a little slow in the first quarter; our main men weren’t getting a lot of buckets so other players had to step up and get some buckets for us.”

The Grizzlies then seemed to be on the verge of pulling away. Three Southside starters fouled out, Northside was in the double-bonus with five minutes left and the Grizzlies built a 13-point lead, 54-41, with 4:01 left.

But the Mavs made things interesting late. Jordyn Jackson hit a 3 just inside the final minute, and on the next possession, the Mavs forced a turnover and Jaylin Coleman raced in for a layup, making it a one-possession game with 38 seconds left, 60-57, in favor of Northside.

Joe proceeded to make four straight foul shots, the latter with 14.5 seconds left for a 64-58 Northside lead. Again, Southside pressed the issue, and Jackson hit another 3 with 6.8 seconds left for another one-possession game.

Gordon was able to ice the win as he was fouled with 1.9 seconds left, and stepped to the line and sank both shots.

Joe led all scorers with 23 points, including his perfect 17-of-17 from the line. Southside’s top scorer was Dillon Hamilton with 19 points, and Hamilton also grabbed seven rebounds.
