Dayton, Ohio — Northridge looked to defend their home court on senior night as Denison University commit Darren Rubin and the Oakwood Lumberjacks came to town. Northridge was coming off of a loss the previous night to Madison as they fell 56-39. The Polar Bears looked to bounce back bigtime against Oakwood.
In his final home game, senior Darryl Story got the Polar Bears started off right with a transition layup and a jumper. Darren Rubin responded with a deep three. Cameron Evans added on a bucket as well but Oakwood freshman Will Maxwell tied the game with a three of his own. Northridge senior Chad Florence hit a deep three before Daniel Hu responded with an and-one. Rubin got a pair of layups and then kicked it out to Dan Flannery who drilled a three before the buzzer. Oakwood led 16-10 after one quarter of play.
Christian Reynolds hit a three to put Oakwood up 19-10 and both teams traded buckets most of the quarter. Cameron Evans brought the Bears back within 3 after an and-one. Isaiah McCallop then tied the game after a transition layup. A Darren Rubin three was the difference at the half as Oakwood led 28-26.
Jack Epley and Chad Florence traded threes as this back and forth affair continued. Daniel Hu hit a jumper and then Darryl Story drilled a three from way downtown to give Northridge the lead. Senior Shawn Shehee got on the board with a putback layup to give the Polar Bears the lead. Shehee then went coast to coast for an and-one to keep Northridge in front. Will Maxwell got a layup as he dribbled baseline to tie the game at 40 apiece heading into the 4th.
Maxwell got a layup to start the 4th, but Shehee quickly answered it with a layup of his own. After Rubin and Hu each got a basket, Chad Florence kept Northridge in the game with a putback layup. Darren Rubin’s nasty euro put Oakwood up 48-45. Isaiah McCallop cut the 9 point deficit to 6 with a clutch three. McCallop and Story each got layups to cut it 8 but it wasn’t enough down the stretch. Northridge pulled Story and Florence for the final time at home in an emotional scene at Northridge. Oakwood came out with the 66-54 win.
Darren Rubin finished with 23 points in the win, Daniel Hu had 19, and Will Maxwell finished with 11.
Northridge was led by Chad Florence and Cameron Evans who each had 13 and then Darryl Story who had 11. Northridge will close out league play with a game at Preble Shawnee and then will end the regular season with a game at Stivers next Saturday. Oakwood will end their season with a game at Franklin next Friday.