CENTERVILLE — With a 65-46 rout of Piqua on Tuesday the Northmont boys varsity basketball team advanced to district play where the Thunderbolts will face conference rival Fairmont.

The Firebirds defeated the T’bolts in both regular season contests; 54-27 on Dec. 2, 2022 and 49-48 in overtime in the second meeting Jan. 13 at Northmont.

The Firebirds finished 7-7 in conference play one game ahead of the Thunderbolts mark of 6-8.

Against Piqua, neither team could get out of its own way, each team missing multiple early shots. After more than a minute of play D.J. Williams netted the first basket to give Northmont an early 2-0 lead.

Piqua’s first point came on a free throw by Dre’Sean Roberts with 5:51 left in the opening quarter. Williams scored the T’bolts second basket at the 5:29 mark to make it 4-1.

After a Piqua timeout Northmont settled down to open up a 14-7 lead by quarter’s end and 29-18 at halftime.

The Thunderbolts maintained a 14 point lead after three quarters en route to the 19 point victory.

Northmont shot the ball exceptionally well, 59.5 percent from the field, compared to Piqua’s 31.9 percent.

The Thunderbolts passed the ball around the horn to take time off the clock throughout the second half until a player found himself wide open under the hoop, took a pass and scored uncontested.

While it appeared to be an easy victory, Northmont coach Darnell Hoskins didn’t share that observation.

“I don’t think it was fairly easy because these are the tougher kinds of games in coaching. These are the games on paper that you should win, right? But getting your team in the mental space where they are prepared for the moment is the difficult part,” Hoskins said.

“All week we were preaching don’t come out and fall asleep and take them for granted. Give them the same treatment as any other opponent gets and I thought our kids did a hell of a job tonight buying into what we were selling.”

PIQ 07 11 13 15 – 46

NMT 14 15 16 20 – 65

Piqua: Kyen Warner 2-1-5, Colton Beougher 1-0-3, Dre’ Sean Roberts 7-8-22, Mickey Anderson 1-0-3, Bryson Roberts 0-2-2, Anson Cox 1-2-4, Jace Weber 1-0-2. Totals: 13-13-46.

Northmont: Dylan Hitchcock 1-1-4, Chermak Green 3-4-11, D.J. Williams 5-0-10, Da’lin Wilkins 6-2-14, Dorian Brew 2-1-5, Duece Cortner 1-0-2, Tyrin Sturdivant 3-2-9, Cedric Works 3-1-7, Cameron Tyree 1-0-3. Totals: 25-11-65.

Three-point field goals: Piqua 3 (Anderson, Beougher, Kuhlman); Northmont 4 (Green, Hitchcock, Sturdivant, Tyree).

Records: Piqua 17-7, Northmont 12-12.

Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].