By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
The Northview High School Chiefs have gotten their basketball season off to a fast start as they finished their first week of play with a sweep of W.S. Neal, Excel and Catholic High Schools.
In their first game, the Chiefs pulled out a close contest with W.S. Neal, 57-52.
The Chiefs took an early advantage as they outscored the Whippets 11-5 in the first period. They held on to that lead through the second as the two teams went to halftime with the score 24-17.
The Chiefs increased their lead in the third period to 47-34. In the final period, Northview found themselves in foul trouble and the Whippets were taking advantage of the chances from the free-throw line. In fact, W.S. Neal took their first lead of the game in the final period only to have Northview snatch it back in time to claim the five-point victory.
The Whippets scored 20 points from the free-throw line.
Head coach Cliff Gillis said he was concerned going into the first game of the season, but that he was proud of how the team handled itself after giving up the lead.
One of the keys for the Chiefs was rebounding. Mandel Smith came down with 10 boards while three other Chiefs had five each.
Leading scorers for the Chiefs were Mandel Smith with 18 points, Daryl Cohen scored 13 and Alvin Hayes added 10 points.
The Chiefs had less trouble with Excel on Thursday night as they won their second game by a final score of 56-27.
Northview took the early lead and added to it throughout the contest.
After one period the score was 13-8, NHS. The lead was stretched to seven points by halftime, 21-14. In the third period the Chiefs left Excel behind as they exploded to a 38-16 lead which paved the way to the final score of 56-27.
Hayes led the scorers in the contest with 11 points, Ray Hale added 10 points, Cohen shot for nine points and Smith chipped in with eight.
On Friday, the Chiefs secured their third victory with a 55-35 win over Catholic.
Dustin Kelley lead the Northview roster with 10 points, Hayes shot for nine points while Jason Gillis, Eric Jefferson and Smith each recorded eight points.
Coach Gillis said he is pleased with the progress he saw through these first three games.