By By Matthew Nascone
The expression "life is good" has been attached to Coca-Cola since 2001. This is definitely something Northview Chiefs boy's basketball head coach Shane Reid was not buying when a fan threw a cup of the beverage on the court Jan. 6 in Bratt.
The Chiefs (8-7, 2-1 in Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2B District 1 play) were losing to Walton in the waning minutes of their match up Friday, but making a run before the unruly fan decided to toss his drink onto the court with four minutes left to play in the game.
"We had the momentum going in our favor after cutting into their lead and I thought we were about to make a move and then one of their fans threw his Coke on the court," NHS head coach Shane Reid said. "We had lost the momentum after the 10-minute delay and never gained it back."
The Chiefs had defeated South Walton twice and were standing in first place with a 2-0 record in district play. That all changed when Walton visited Bratt Friday night.
In what NHS head coach Shane Reid labeled a great high school basketball game, NHS and Walton battled to the end.
"Walton had only lost two all year and they were picked at the beginning of the year to win the district," Reid said. "I was proud of my guys effort all night, but we were just outplayed all night."
Reid said the lead in the game went back and forth all night until Walton sealed the deal in the fourth quarter after the drink incident.
"After that happened we let other things around us dictate the game and we can't do that if we want to win the big games," Reid said.
Nakita Myles led the Chiefs with 20 points. Courtney Whatley and Cedric McKinley added 11 points each, Ahmadh Simpson dropped in two points and Jordan Cook hit a free throw.
McKinley pulled down 11 rebounds and Cook grabbed five rebounds. Whatley stole three passes and had four assists.
The Chiefs face Catholic Thursday at 7:15 p.m. in Bratt for a district battle.
In girl's action
The Lady Chiefs also lost to Walton. NHS lost to the tune of 62-41.
NHS head coach Lorenzo Jones said the game was a close one until halfway through the fourth quarter.
"Their press got to us in the fourth quarter and they stole the ball many times," Jones said. "We also were in foul trouble towards the end."
The foul trouble in the fourth quarter led to girls on the court that are not accustomed to playing with each other.
"When you have to sub in different girls things change and the chemistry is not there," Jones said. "I believe my starters are beginning to improve and play well together."
Leading scorers for the Lady Chiefs were Timeka Marshall with 12 points, Finese Newton with nine points and Melissa Garrett with eight points.
The Lady Chiefs square off against Catholic Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Bratt in a district match-up.