Northview falls at Auburn

AUBURN - After losing seven of its last nine games to close the regular season, the Auburn High boys basketball team has won three straight after defeating Northview, 70-63, in sub-regional playoff action Friday night.

With the win, the Tigers (20-12) advance to the regional playoffs for the first time since 2006.

 “It means a lot,” senior Cole Stockton said. “Last year we just lost in the first round.”

After starting the game slow, Stockton scored 21 points in the game’s final three quarters.

 “I was making some dumb fouls there at the beginning so I had to adjust,” said Stockton. “I was reaching a lot, and trying to block a lot of shots, but we adjusted.”

“One thing that hurt us is we got in foul trouble,” Tigers coach Frank Tolbert said. “Cody (Core) had two fouls on him, and Cole had two fouls on him, and sometimes that messes up your rotation.”

Stockton scored 11 points in the fourth quarter alone and 4 points on four foul shots within the last 30 seconds of the game to seal the win for the Tigers.

 “At the end we made sure we put the ball in the hands of the ones that can shoot the free throws,” Tolbert said. “Cole stepped up and made his free throws.”

Stockton finished with 24 points to lead all scorers, while senior Daijon MacKlien and sophomore Dontavious Brooks added 15 points apiece for the Tigers. Junior guard Marquez White led Northview with 18 points.

Auburn led 34-28 at the halftime break, but the Cougars outscored the Tigers 20-14 in the third quarter to tie the game, 48-48, going into the final period.

Both teams exchanged buckets at the start of the fourth quarter before a 3-pointer by White gave Northview its first lead since the first quarter, setting the score at 57-56 with just less than 4 minutes to play.

Auburn responded on the ensuing possession with a lay-in by Core. After forcing a stop on defense, Stockton hit a 3-pointer to extend the Tigers’ lead.

A lay-in by Brooks capped the short 7-0 run that gave Auburn a 63-57 lead with 2:01 remaining in the game.

Stockton and his teammates then hit their free throws down the stretch to earn the victory.

“I think what really helped us was the crowd that we had here tonight,” said Tolbert. “They really helped us.”

Auburn will play Sidney Lanier in the Central Regional playoffs Tuesday on the campus of Alabama State University in Montgomery.

The Cougars’ season ended with a 15-16 record.

“Right now we have to worry about getting ready and going to Montgomery,” said Tolbert.

“It really means a lot to us seniors, since this is our last year,” said Stockton. “We’re really looking forward to the next game, so one step at a time.”