Northside Christian Finds Its Groove Late, Defeats Marion-Franklin 56-41

Westerville — On a chilly Black Friday, with light snow setting the scene, the Northside Christian Lions opened their boys basketball season against the Marion-Franklin Red Devils in Westerville.

The early stages of the game were all about setting the tone. Marion-Franklin leaned into a physical, paint-focused approach, while Northside Christian worked to establish their perimeter offense. The Lions found their rhythm beyond the arc in the first quarter, building a 13-9 lead as the Red Devils worked to assert their presence inside.

In the second quarter, Northside Christian’s success from three-point range cooled off, allowing Marion-Franklin’s physicality to take over in the paint and on the boards. The Red Devils narrowed the gap, but a pair of late free throws kept the Lions ahead at halftime with a slim 22-21 lead.

At halftime, first-year Lions Head Coach and former Ohio State player Harrison Hookfin urged his team to elevate their physicality. “We harped that no one comes into our house and is more physical than us, but they were in the first half,” Hookfin said. “The focus in the second half was on drawing up plays for quality looks and attacking off two feet to force the referee to make a call.”

Marion-Franklin opened the third quarter with a quick run to take the lead, prompting a Lions timeout. From there, the game turned into a gritty battle in the paint, with both teams trading blows and testing each other’s toughness. Northside Christian regained control, edging ahead 35-31 by the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions rediscovered their touch from beyond the arc, much like they had in the first quarter. Combined with increased confidence in the paint, Northside Christian broke the game wide open. Outscoring Marion-Franklin 21-10 in the final frame, the Lions secured a commanding 56-41 victory, giving Coach Hookfin his first win at the helm. Trel Jackson and Josh Cook led the Lions with 21 and 17 points apiece, Zach Lovegrove added eight points.

After the final buzzer, Coach Hookfin praised his team’s effort. “We definitely got our feet wet and had some first-game jitters,” he said. “But I’m proud of the boys. They gave a great effort, especially in the second half. They came out with a lot of energy and responded well. I’m proud of them.”

Northside Christian (1-0) will travel to Liberty Christian Academy to open conference play on December 3. Marion-Franklin (0-1) hosts Heath on December 4.