NAPPANEE — Goshen demonstrated poise and hustle at the most opportune time and won its second Northern Lakes Conference boys basketball away game Friday.

The Redskins (8-4, 3-1) used a key fourth-quarter possession and a 9-0 run in the final period to spark a 55-47 win against NorthWood (11-2, 3-1) at the Panther Pit.

“We played with poise against their zone,” said Goshen coach Brian Bechtel, whose club now has NLC wins at Northridge, at home against Warsaw and at NorthWood to go with a home loss to Concord. “At times this year, we’ve been impatient (against zone defenses). This time our guys were searching for the best shot. We had really good offensive possessions.”

Jesse Good, who scored nine of his game-high 15 points in the fourth quarter, sank a 3-pointer at the end of a lengthy Goshen possession kept alive by an offensive rebound.

NorthWood coach Aaron Wolfe credited the Redskins for coming through in loose-ball and defensive situations down the stretch.

“They knocked their free throws down in the fourth quarter, which gave them separation,” said Wolfe, who saw Goshen get into the bonus with 3 minutes to go and make 5 of 8 charity tosses from that point on.

“(Goshen) was able to control the tempo,” said Wolfe of a game that featured four ties, seven lead changes and no differential bigger than five points in the first half. “We were chasing them through tough defensive possessions and it took away some offensive rhythm from our basketball team.”

The Redskins, who trailed 31-29 at halftime, outscored the hosts 26-16 in the second half.

“Jesse Good dug real deep and forced them to take real tough shots (in the second half),” said Bechtel. “Our defense in the second half helped our offense.”

Jonathan Wilkinson led the Panthers with 13, but only scored three after the first quarter.

Zach Zurcher netted seven of his 11 for NorthWood in the second period.

Tommy Klem also finished with 11 points for the Panthers.

Goshen’s Sam Stegelmann scored six of his 12 points in the first quarter.

Concord’s 42-31 win at Warsaw makes the Minutemen the lone 4-0 club in the NLC. Goshen, NorthWood and Warsaw are all 3-1.

“Our guys still believe they are in the hunt for the title,” said Bechtel.



Goshen 55, NorthWood 47

Goshen — Sam Stegelmann 4-6 4-4 12, Brady Bechtel 3-5 1-1 7, Austin Woolett 2-4 1-2 5, Jesse Good 4-10 4-6 15, Austin Henke 3-7 1-2 8, Alex Hartsough 3-5 0-0 6, Deric Haynes 0-2 2-2 2. Totals: 19-39 (.487) 13-17 (.765) 55.

NorthWood — Zach Zurcher 4-14 3-5 11, Tommy Klem 4-8 2-5 11, Jonathan Wilkinson 5-12 2-4 13, Tanner Farmwald 3-4 0-0 8, Kyle McCoy 0-1 0-0 0, Will Stueve 2-3 0-1 4, Braxton Linville 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 18-42 (.429) 7-15 (.467) 47.

Scoring By Quarters

Goshen 15 14 10 16 — 55

NorthWood 15 16 6 10 — 47

3-point goals: Goshen (4-11) — Good 3-5, Henke 1-4; NorthWood (4-13) — Farmwald 2-3, Klem 1-5, Wilkinson 1-5.

Rebounds: Goshen (26) — Stegelmann 5; NorthWood (19) — Klem 5, Wilkinson 5.

Assists: Goshen (12) — Henke 3, Stegelmann 3; NorthWood (13) — Farmwald 5, Wilkinson 4.

Steals: Goshen (8) — Bechtel 3; NorthWood (7).

Turnovers: Goshen 13, NorthWood 13.

Fouls: Goshen 12, NorthWood 18. Fouled out — none.

Officials: Brad Clauss, Jon Hershberger, Trent Long.

Records: Goshen 8-4 (3-1 NLC), NorthWood 11-2 (3-1 NLC).

Next: Memorial at Goshen, NorthWood at Warsaw, both Friday.

JV: Goshen 43, NorthWood 30. Top scorers: Goshen — Jack Gingerich 11, Cam Kline 11, Oliver Nafziger 11, D.J. Ambrose 6; NorthWood — Travis Bear 15, David Eshelman 6. JV records: Goshen 8-4 (2-2 NLC), NorthWood 11-2 (3-1 NLC).