By By ZACH BROOKS
Sports Writer
The Northview High School Chiefs came into their very important area game against Baker High School trying to improve on their 3-5 record and to get a good jump on the area championship.
The game against Baker was a very important motivator for the Chiefs as they did not want to start off the season with a losing record in area play.
The started out right for the Chiefs as they jumped out to an impressive 14-8 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
Baker however, would not go down easy in this game. They got on a little run of their own in the second quarter to end up tying the game, 20-20 heading into half-time.
Both teams came out of the third quarter running and gunning, with both teams making tough shots and playing tenacious defense. Northview however, did those things a little better to take a 30-28 lead heading into the crucial fourth quarter.
If the third quarter was exciting, it had nothing on the fourth quarter. Both teams put on an offensive show that left both spectators and respective coaches and players in awe.
Both teams kept making shot after shot to keep the game close heading into the final minutes of the quarter.
Northview however, eked out a 47-46 thriller, that will go down as one of the great games in Northview history.
Baker actually outscored Northview in the tremendous fourth quarter 18-17, but it was not enough because of Northview's two point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Mendell Smith lead the Chiefs and all scorers in scoring on the night with 22 points. Daryl Cohen followed with eleven points, while Jason Gillis also had nine points in the win.
Northview next played in the Jay Tournament. The Tournament consisted off six teams: Flomaton, Mobile Christian, Jay, Central, Northview, and East Hill. Everybody in the tournament was to play two games with no specific winner to be determined.
Northview started off the tournament playing the Flomaton Hurricanes in the first game.
Northview gained control of the game at the start with a 15-12 lead after the first quarter, and they would not give up the lead for the entire game.
During the second quarter the Chiefs added seven points to their lead to take it to ten, 32-22, heading into half-time.
The third quarter was no better for the Hurricanes as the Chiefs scored 22 points for the quarter to all but end the game heading into the final period.
The Chiefs scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to squash any resemblance of a comeback Flomaton had, and to gain the 73-53 victory.
Daryl Cohen lead the Chiefs in points with 18 points. Shane Johnson followed with 12 points on the night, and Terrance Grice also had ten points in the victory.
The Chiefs last game of the Tournament was against Mobile Christian. The Chiefs never really had a challenge in the game as they jumped out to a 18- 4 lead after the first quarter, and Mobile Christian never got any closer.
The Chiefs then scored 17 points in the second quarter to take a 35-19 lead into half-time.
The third quarter was no different for the Chiefs as they scored 16 points to take a 51-28 lead heading into the final period of play.
The Chiefs had the best quarter of the game in the fourth quarter, as they scored 23 points to grab the 74-39 victory.
Mendell Smith lead the Chiefs in points with 19 points on the night. Daryl Cohen followed with 14 points, and Nakita Watts also had 13 points on the night.
With the three victories Northview improved it's record to 6-5 and are playing their best basketball of this young season.