By By ZACH BROOKS
Sports Writer
The Northview High School Chiefs played Escambia Charter out of Pensacola November 30th at home and came away with their first win, 67-39.
The Chiefs dominated after the first quarter, never allowing Escambia Charter to get close to the lead the rest of the game.
The Chiefs improved their shooting from the line dramatically. Shooting 61% on 14-23 shooting from the line.
Mendell Smith recorded his first double double of the year with a 17 point 11 rebound performance. "I was really impressed with Mendell's game tonight, " Coach Gillis said. "He did everything for us."
Daryl Cohen and Jason Gillis followed with 13 points each. Cohen also had six steals in the win.
The Chiefs then played T.R. Miller on December 3rd at home. The Chiefs lost an easily winnable game 62-55.
Free throws killed the Chiefs again. The Chiefs missed 17 free throws, while shooting 26% from the line on 6/23 shooting. T.R. Miller won by seven points, if the Chiefs would have made half of the ones they missed they would have won the game by one.
"Free throws really hurt us this game," Coach Gillis said. "They shot 69% percent while we only shot 26 percent, you can not win games like that."
Even with all of those missed free throws the Chiefs were only down by one with two minutes left. Then the free throw bug took over and the game was not even close in the final seconds.
Daryl Cohen lead the Chiefs in points with 16 points. Shane Johnson followed with 11 points. John Madison also had nine points in the loss.
Mendell Smith lead the Chiefs in rebounding with seven rebounds. Terrance Grice followed with five rebounds in the loss.
The Chiefs next game was against Jay on December 4th at home. This game was the Chiefs second area game.
"We need to win this game to remain in the hunt for the district championship," Coach Gillis said.
The Chiefs won 50-38. Largely in part of Mendell Smith's second double double of the season and because improved shooting from the line.
The Chiefs shot 53% from the line on 10-19 shooting. This game was only the second game in which the Chiefs shot above 50% from the foul line.
Mendell Smith lead the Chiefs in both scoring and rebounding with 19 points and 11 rebounds. John Madison followed with 10 points. Jason Gillis also had nine points in the loss.
The Chiefs final game of the week was with W.S. Neal on December 7th in W.S. Neal.
This game was easily the best game the Chiefs have played all year long. They shot the ball well, played good defense and had good team effort.
"John Madison and Daryl Cohen both played a heckuva game." Coach Gillis said. "They played good against the press and both of them had 14 assists combined."
Madison had eight assists and Cohen had six.
Five Chiefs scored in double figures in the win: Mendell Smith, Jason Gillis, Shane Johnson, Terrance Grice, and Daryl Cohen.
Terrance had his first double double of the season also, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Mendell Smith lead the Chiefs in points with 17 points. Gillis and Johnson followed with 15 each. Grice had 13 points, and Cohen had 12 points to finish out the five.
The Chiefs even shot free throws good; shooting 71 percent on 15/21 shooting.
Grice and Smith lead the team in rebounding with 10 and 7 apiece.
Northview plays Atmore next Tuesday night in Atmore and game-time is at 7:30.