Northwest coach Chris Collins has almost impossible standards for his players. He admits this freely.
He doesn't want his point guard, Craig Nicholson, to miss any shots. He wants one of his forwards, Kendrick Miller, to average a double-double.
And he wants everybody to help his center, 6-foot-8 Spenser Gales, rebound.
So even on nights like Friday, when the Grizzlies rolled to an 83-39 win over South and a 5-0 record headed into the break, Collins still found flaws.
"The reason I ask so much of them is because the expectations around here have changed," Collins said. "Two or three years ago I guess I would have been happy with tonight, but I think we need to keep pushing."
Miller did his double-double duty with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Nicholson was solid from beginning to end with 17 points.
"My numbers rebounding have been down lately, and coach has been after me," Miller said. "He said he expects a double-double every night... he's been saying that all year."
Northwest went to a full-court press early in the first half and put the game out of reach as South struggled to get the ball past half-court and the Grizzlies led 44-14 at halftime.
"We prepared for the press in practice," South coach Demarcco Owens said. "But once we got out there we just didn't have it in our head that we could beat it."
Leading 66-33 after three quarters, the teams went to a running clock in the final period.
Andrew Moncada was the other Northwest player in double figures with 10 points.
The Grizzlies return from the break to a matchup with No. 1 Heights at Koch Arena on Jan. 7.
"Obviously there's going to be a lot of interest in that game, but we can't change our approach," Collins said. "We won't look at it like it's anything more than what it is, which is a conference game, but we do realize it's against the No. 1 team and a great opponent."
South (1-5, 0-5) 5 9 19 6 — 39 Northwest (5-0, 5-0) 17 27 22 17 — 83
SOUTH: Martin 1 0-0 3, Wesley 2 0-0 5, Davis 2 1-3 6, Keiswetter 1 0-2 2, Logan 2 2-4 6, Moore 4 0-1 8, Gilkey 1 1-3 3, Lovell 1 0-0 3. Totals Hicks 1 0-0 3. Totals 15 (5) 4-13 39.
NORTHWEST: Nicholson 5 5-9 15, Carter 1 2-2 5, Miller 10 2-2 22, Tuggle 3 0-0 6, Gales 3 2-5 8, Jones 2 0-2 4, Moncada 4 2-2 10, Johnston 1 1-2 3, Hughes 1 1-2 3, Carson 1 0-3 2, McIntyre 0 2-2 2, Darr 1 0-0 3. Totals 32 (2) 17-31 83.
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