NAPPANEE – Luke Stephens has had NorthWood’s number the last two meetings.

That number was 25 Saturday night for the Fairfield star guard.

Senior Stephens poured in a game-high 25 points to lead his Falcons past the Class 3-A No. 3 Panthers 45-42 in non-conference action in the Panther Pit.

Stephens had 22 points when the two teams last met in a sectional semifinal game at Wawasee back last March. The Falcons upset the then No. 2 ranked Panthers 59-51 on that night to end NorthWood’s run of three straight Class 3-A sectional championships. Fairfield, again led by Stephens, then went on to beat West Noble to win the sectional title.

A cold-shooting first half and the free throw line hurt the Panthers, who lost their second straight game. The hosts fell behind 11-3 after the opening period and 20-12 at halftime by shooting just 4-15 from the field in the first half.

The Panthers were outscored 16-6 from the free throw line. Fairfield hit 16-24 chances from the stripe, while the hosts were just 6-11. Stephens was 11-15 from the line in the game and also drained four treys in the win.

NorthWood was outscored 18-4 from the line in a 61-55 loss at Class 2-A No. 4 Westview on Thursday night. The host Warriors were 18-23 from the line and NorthWood 4-5 in that contest.

Senior Caleb Glick led the offense for the Panthers, who fall to 3-2, with 13 points. Junior Nick Bean had eight points and senior Caleb Lung seven for coach Aaron Wolfe’s team. Junior Kaden Gongwer and senior Brad Delio each had five points.

NorthWood, which beat Fairfield 69-35 during the regular season last year, finished the game 16-38 from the field overall, but just 4-16 from distance. The hosts had 15 turnovers.

Fairfield, which was coming off of a 69-61 double overtime loss to Lakeland Tuesday night, went 12-28 from the field. The Falcons hit 5-12 from deep and had 18 turnovers.

NorthWood won the junior varsity game 45-40. Ben Vincent had 15 points and Trent Edwards 12 for the winners. Colton Cripe led Fairfield with 10 points.

Fairfield edged past NorthWood 26-25 in the freshman game. Caleb Schwartz scored seven points and Jon Cripe and Colin Glick each had six to lead NorthWood. Glick had nine rebounds and Tanner Feenstra had four points and four rebounds and Ryan Blosser four rebounds for the frosh Panthers.

NorthWood hosts Jimtown Tuesday evening and entertains Plymouth Friday night in its Northern Lakes Conference opener. Fairfield plays at Hamilton Friday night.