Nolan Pickup
Columbus North hadn’t had much good fortune playing in Memorial Gym this boys basketball season.
The Bull Dogs started off 0-6 at home, with all of their first four wins coming on the road. Saturday afternoon, they got a pick-me-up from junior Nolan Pickup.
Pickup notched career-highs of 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead North to that elusive home victory, a 54-46 triumph against Perry Meridian.
“I think it’s a huge momentum changer in the season because losing at home is always harder,” Pickup said. “I think this is going to carry our momentum to the end of the season into sectional.”
The Bull Dogs (5-8) also got 13 points from fellow post player Garrett Long. They outrebounded the Falcons (3-12) 29-13.
“I just thought that if I came out aggressive and grabbed rebounds and looked for scoring opportunities, we’d come out with a win,” Pickup said. “Everybody came together and rebounded and scored, and the amount of rebounds definitely helped.”
North was clinging to a 36-34 lead early in the fourth quarter when Ben Ferguson chased down a long rebound and fired a pass to a cutting Judah Lewis for a layup. After Perry hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one, Ferguson got loose for a layup and Lewis hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 43-37.
The Bull Dogs enjoyed their biggest lead at 49-41 with 2 minutes remaining before the Falcons hit a 3-pointer and a 2-pounder to cut the lead to three with 1:41 left. Perry’s press forced another turnover, but a potential game-tying 3-pointer and a layup were off the mark, and Long made a basket. Long then blocked a Falcon 3-point attempt, and Caleb Ferguson made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 38 seconds to ice it.
“It was a very complete game for us start-to finish, and then we withheld a rally by Perry there because they’re long and athletic, and when they pressure you like that, it’s hard to get the ball in,” North coach Paul Ferguson said.
Lewis finished with nine points, and Caleb Ferguson added eight for the Bull Dogs.
“We really hurt them inside,” Paul Ferguson said. “Obviously, our bigs (Pickup and Long) played really well, but then you look at Drew Schiefer with a great post move down the stretch and a great pass, Ben Ferguson with that huge long rebound and pass to Judah to put us up four, Judah with a big 3 and a steal in the second half. We just got a lot of contributions from different guys.”
Columbus North 54, Perry Meridian 46
Perry Meridian;12;9;12;13;—;46
Columbus North;14;10;10;20;—;54
Perry Meridian (3-12): Zion Jordan 4 0-0 10, BJ Sibanda Jr. 1 0-2 3, Anthony Towns 3 0-0 6, Bryce Mathis 1 1-2 3, Jojo Brewer 4 0-0 11, Braydon Hohlt 3 3-3 11, Ryan Terrell 1 0-0 2, Colton Phillips 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 4-7 46.
Columbus North (5-8): Judah Lewis 4 0-0 9, Caleb Ferguson 2 3-4 8, Nate Enneking 0 0-0 0, Max Coomes 2 0-0 6, Nolan Pickup 7 0-0 14, Ben Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Drew Schiefer 1 0-0 2, Garrett Long 6 1-3 13. Totals: 23 4-7 54.
3-point goals: Perry Meridian 8 (Brewer 3, Jordan 2, Hohlt 2, Sibanda); Columbus North 4 (Coomes 2, Lewis, C. Ferguson).
