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POWERS -- Forest Park succumbed to North Central's tight defense in a 54-37 loss to open the boys basketball season Tuesday.
The Trojans were troubled by the Jets' height throughout the night, shooting 14 of 51, including 3 for 20 from long range.
"It was a tough matchup for us," Forest Park coach Chris Nocerini said. "Give them credit -- North Central did a nice job tonight."
Riley Hendrickson's 12 points paced the Trojans, while Tommy Showers added 10.
Griffin Johnson led North Central with 14 points, followed by 12 from Brady Eichmeier. Eichmeier also had 11 rebounds. The Jets hit 18-of-62 shots.
The Trojans were held to six points in the second and third quarters while the Jets scored 24 points in that span. Nocerini said he also noticed some of the usual early-season rust. And the boys' season starting a week early doesn't help, he said.
"We're not supposed to be playing basketball during deer season," Nocerini said.
"It's just doing the fundamental things right. I don't think our overall conditioning was there tonight. We got winded, which is nice now. We can look at a game we played and show these kids where we have to improve. Now I really feel like we have a starting point on the season."
North Central's JVs won.
North Central visits Mid Peninsula Friday.
Forest Park 16 4 2 15 -- 37
North Central 20 9 15 10 -- 54
Forest Park: Hendrickson 12, Showers 10, Peltoma 4, Nylund 4, Franz 3, Emmers 2, Johnson 2. FT: 6-13. F: 12. 3-point field goals: Hendrickson 2, Franz 1.
North Central: Johnson 14, Eichmeier 12, Hanchek 10, Holle 8, Bentley 4, Gorzinski 3, Timblin 3. FT: 12-14. F: 15. 3-point field goals: Hanchek 3, Johnson 2, Gorzinski 1.