Northwest Edges Monroe 51–50 in Thrilling Tournament Victory

The Northwest boys basketball team earned a hard-fought 51–50 victory over Monroe on Thursday, February 26, 2026, advancing in tournament play with a dramatic one-point win in the 1st round of the OHSAA Sectional hosted by Princeton High School.

After trailing 25–20 at halftime, Northwest responded with a dominant third quarter, outscoring Monroe 20–9 to take control of the game. Monroe rallied in the fourth quarter with 16 points, but Northwest held on down the stretch to secure the win.

Isaiah Stroud led Northwest with 13 points, shooting an efficient 6-of-8 from the field. Travontay Thomas and Christian Craig each added 11 points, with Craig knocking down three three-pointers. Ethan Dixon contributed eight points and six steals in an impressive defensive effort, while Eli Sterling added eight points to round out the balanced scoring attack.

As a team, Northwest shot 47.5% from the field (19-of-40) and connected on 42.9% of its three-point attempts (6-of-14). The Knights also recorded 12 assists and forced 12 steals, highlighting their defensive intensity and teamwork.

Monroe was led by Ty Perkins, who scored a game-high 21 points, including four three-pointers. David Hernandez added 12 points, and Steven Rude chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. Monroe shot 45% from the field and 47.4% from beyond the arc, keeping the contest tight throughout.

Monroe shot 45 percent from the field overall (18-of-40) but was limited to just 4-of-21 shooting inside the arc outside of key performances, as Northwest forced 15 turnovers and consistently disrupted Monroe’s offensive rhythm.

Northwest’s defensive intensity was especially evident in the third quarter, where Monroe managed only nine points after scoring 25 in the first half. That defensive stand allowed Northwest to explode for 20 points in the period and take control of the game.

While Monroe connected on nine three-pointers (47.4 percent from beyond the arc), Northwest limited second-chance opportunities by controlling the glass, outrebounding Monroe 26-17. The Knights also recorded four blocked shots, creating transition opportunities and preventing Monroe from establishing sustained offensive runs.

Northwest’s composure in the final minutes proved decisive as the Knights executed key plays and defensive stops to preserve the one-point advantage.  Stroud was able to drive the lane and score the game-winning bucket with 2.7 seconds remaining.  

With the win, Northwest continues its postseason run, with a matchup with Hughes scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026.