Coming into the matchup, Coach Derrick Clubb told his team that Noffsinger was “their guy.” He certainly was on this night, scoring 24 for the visitors, including 15 in the first half. Muhlenberg led 30-26 at the break in a hard-fought sixteen minutes of action.
Muhlenberg dominated the early stages of the third period, leading 46-35 just over midway through…Kaleb Rolley heated up as well from beyond the arc and he and Noffsinger were making basically everything they took. After a timeout, South Warren decided enough was enough. Dayton Gumm hit a pair of threes and Austin Bybee added a trifecta of his own, which…mixed with a few buckets from Zach McDaniel and some inside looks to Brad Logsdon…led to an 18-0 run for the Spartans. South Warren tied it at 46 at the buzzer to end the third on a McDaniel layup.
The fourth period saw the Spartans take an eleven point lead of their own, but Muhlenberg shot their way right back into it and some key steals off of backcourt traps caused three consecutive turnovers. The lead was down to three in the final two minutes when Noffsinger was called for a foul underneath, his fifth, and was disqualified. Brad Logsdon would make 3-4 from the line late and South Warren would hang on to win the game 69-62. The Spartans moved to 7-8 on the season and are off until Monday, when they make up the weather-cancelled doubleheader with Todd County Central and then travel on Tuesday to play a pretty good Edmonson County team.
Clubb said in his postgame interview that the win was one the team really needed, that he saw doubt creep into his group’s eyes when Muhlenberg made their big run in the third period and that they just have to remember how to win games.
Brandon Stacker – 13
Zach McDaniel – 13
Dayton Gumm – 11 (POG)
Austin Bybee – 11
