Northside routes Rutland at home behind defense and team-high 18 points from Elijah Patmon

WARNER ROBINS — Northside (5-2) never trailed in their 79-47 rout of the Rutland Hurricanes (1-8), marking the Eagles’ best start through seven games since the 2020 season.

The defense shined, providing Northside with a bounty of takeaways and fast break opportunities that were necessary for a struggling half court offense.

That was one of the positive observations head coach Buck Harris had on a night where he wasn’t pleased with the whole effort.

“Defensively we can be pretty good at times,” Harris said. “We didn’t do the stuff that I needed us to do, which was do the little things. Get the 50-50 ball, get more deflections, get more steals. I’m trying to get some guys to buy into what we’re doing defensively, and if I can get three or four more guys to do that, I think we could be a pretty good basketball team.”

Rutland was not cautious with the ball and gifted the Eagles some turnovers throughout the game. Bad outlet passes and driving into multiple defenders were a couple of ways. But Harris gave his team some credit, too, for forcing some of those turnovers with ball pressure and aggressiveness in the passing lanes.

“I think it was a little bit of both. One of they keys on the board, I said, we got to create havoc. We got to turn them over, and I thought we could do that,” Harris said. “What I try to emphasize is that if we turn them over we ain’t got to come down and call plays. You get the freedom to rebound and run and go make a play for yourself or your teammates…We’re trying to create an offense from my defense.”

Northside found most of their early success in transition, but in the second quarter they created some separation by getting it down to Elijah Patmon in the post.

Patmon is listed at 6-foot-4 and 293 pounds, is a four-star Texas A&M commit and Region 2-5A Defensive Lineman of the Year.

That kind of size isn’t something you see every day on a high school basketball court and that was apparent in the way he was able to push through and shrug off defenders at the basket.

Nine of his 18 points came in the second quarter to help the Eagles to a 39-22 halftime lead.

“He catches the ball very well, and when he decides to get off his big behind and jump he can make some layups for us,” Harris said. “He told me [Monday], he said, ‘I’m gonna get a double double.’ I don’t think [double-digit] rebounds but he had 18 points. Outside of [Houston County center] Braylin Mills he’s one of the biggest guys in our region size wise…He gives us what we need down there.”

Harris still wants more from his center, though, in the form of physical dominance.

“I said [to Patmon], ‘I don’t understand how you a football player and you don’t seem very physical. Guys coming in there, you have zero fouls right now,’” Harris said. “But he gives us a presence when [the team] understands what we need to do, which is feed him on the inside. It’s gonna open everything else up on the outside. He’s been a joy to have right now.”

UP NEXT

Northside will host Perry in their first county matchup of the season on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.

Rutland will look to snap their five-game losing streak when they hit the road to Howard on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m.