It was a thrilling night of repeat performances for the Northville High LAX team as they traveled to West Bloomfield for the State Regional Semifinals. Arch rival Novi was the opponent this evening, and the Mustangs got a repeat of this season's first matchup by producing a three point margin of victory and an 11-8 final. The Northville squad got the win by duplicating the intense effort they showed in the first contest at Novi.
The biggest story of the evening was the excellent play of the Mustang defense. Playing shorthanded, without the services of senior anchor Greg Stewart, the long pole brigade literally clamped down on Novi's attack, making it nearly impossible to score in their offense. In fact, most of the Wildcat scoring came on fluke fast break points. The Stangs limited opposing shots, checked viciously, and did not allow a single point in man-down situations. Cam LaBurn, Charlie Morgan, Brian Griffiths, and Dan Baldwin, along with a host of middies played as if they were possessed.
The Mustang offense was steady and reliable tonight as Northville peppered the Novi defense with a variety of formations, attacks, and shots. Perhaps the most notable came on another huge repeat of a highlight play from earlier in the season. Alex Justice, Northville's standout goalie, saved a Novi shot, raced down field, faked several Novi defenders, ran over several more, performed a rare triple-juke, and fired a laser into the upper corner of the Novi goal while fans watched in utter amazement. One of the dozens of college scouts in attendance was heard to scream, "not sure who that kid is, but I am signing him Tonight!"
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Coach Greg Durham, when he finally escaped the throng of reporters angling for his attention, was quick to reflect the credit back to his team. "We couldn't be prouder of the effort tonight," he said with emotion, "our guys gave everything they had, and it really paid off. Our team chemistry is fantastic right now....the guys play for the 'Family'." Asked his thoughts on the prospects for the next game, a State Quarterfinal, as he boarded the bus for the victorious ride home, he turned with a smile, "can't wait!"
So on to the quarterfinals against the winner of tonight's matchup between Ann Arbor Skyline and U of D High. That contest will be Friday night at West Bloomfield High. Game time has yet to be announced......or perhaps just not revealed to this scribe yet......but will certainly be a game for the ages. Seats are limited and the student body travels in force, so get there early to support the most exciting LAX team around. See you there....GO MUSTANGS!
