The Northview Chiefs star guard Neino Robinson scored 38 points in a 74-68 loss Thursday against Holmes County, but the defeat was the first of the year for the Chiefs, who jumped out to a 5-0 start before stumbling this week at home.

The loss moves the Chiefs to 5-1 on the year.

Coach Mandell Smith blamed crucial turnovers for the home loss.

“We’ve got to stop making mistakes,” Smith said. “The turnovers really hurt us.”

After falling behind 13-4, Northview went on a 10-4 run to end the first quarter and bring the score within three to 17-14.

Robinson scored 12 of the team’s 14 points in the opening stanza with Cameron Newsome chipping in two points.

Northview had an early shot of tying it up as LaDerious Franklin connected on a shot, but was fouled. He missed the free throw and HCHS took a 17-16 lead with 7:26 left.

Holmes County added to its lead with an 11-4 to end the half. HCHS led 36-28 at halftime.

The Chiefs cut the HCHS lead to three with 4:30 left in the third quarter, but the Blue Devils increased it to 13 points in less than minute. NHS went on a 5-0 run after Franklin was fouled again on a shot and connected on the free throw.

Northview tried to chip away at the Blue Devils’ eight-point lead in the fourth quarter as Trent Howard and Blake McCall warmed up from the field. Howard was the team’s second leading scorer with nine points and McCall was third with eight.

Two consecutive baskets by McCall cut the HCHS lead to four with 6:57 left. The lead was down to two when the Blue Devils’ Chris Walker scored one of his six blocks on the night.

HCHS increased its lead to four points before Robinson sank a jumper. Walker dunked with 5:08 left to put the Blue Devils back up by four.
The Blue Devils increased the lead to 13 with a nine-point run with 3:36 left in the game. NHS cut the lead down as time ticked away, but were unable to catch the Blue Devils and suffered their first loss of the year.

Prior to Thursday’s game, the Chiefs jumped out to a perfect 5-0 start on their season. The Chiefs knocked off Escambia Charter in their season opener, winning in a squeaker by a score 66-61. The Chiefs next topped Escambia County before notching their third win by blowing out the Freeport Bulldogs, 91-68. A 75-68 win over Central and a 65-52 victory over the Jay Royals gave NHS a perfect record before their loss Thursday to the Blue Devils.

The Chiefs get a bit of a break over the holiday week but will be back in action Thursday through Saturday on the road participating in the Catholic Tournament.