NorthWood repeated as Bankers Classic champions, running 4-0 in the tournament that concluded with a 42-32 win over Northridge in the championship. (Photo provided)

PANTHERS RUN GAMUT AT BANKERS CLASSIC

NorthWood survived the four-game slate to repeat as champions of the Bankers Classic girls basketball tournament hosted by Northridge.

The Panthers went 4-0, beating Merrillville 64-57 in the final Pool B game, then taking care of the host Raiders in the championship, 42-32, to win its second straight and fifth overall tournament title.

Against Merrillville in the morning pool game, Kate Rulli and Maddy Payne were a terror to the Pirates, scoring 40 combined points. Rulli hit 11 field goals in the contest, seven field goals and 15 of her 23 points coming in the second half. Kendal Miller hit a pair of threes and scored 12 points for the Panthers.

Torri Miller led the Pirates with 16 points and Davina Smith had 13 points.

In the championship, NorthWood moved to 15-2 overall with a 10-point win over its Northern Lakes Conference rivals.

The twin towers Payne and Rulli again were huge for the Panthers, scoring 22 combined points. Payne, who was voted to the All-Tournament Team, hit 7-8 free throws in the fourth quarter and 8-10 overall from the line.

Miller added 12 more points for NorthWood, scoring eight of those in the fourth quarter. For the tournament, Miller scored 17 fourth quarter points and 33 of her 45 total points in the second half of the four games.

Northridge led the game 25-23 heading into the fourth quarter. Clinging to a one-point lead, 30-29, with 3:47 to go, NorthWood used a 14-17 performance from the free throw line in the final frame to grab the tournament title.

Jaci Walker, another of the All-Tournament Team choices, led Northridge (7-11 overall) with 12 points. Maddy Weinert, Colleen Miller and Makena Knepp all wound up with six points in the loss.

NorthWood, now with an 11-game win streak, sits atop the NLC with a 4-0 mark. Concord is 3-1 in the standings, with Northridge and Warsaw both at 2-1. NorthWood and Northridge meet in conference play on Jan. 18 back at Ridge.

GRACE WOMEN 85, HOLY CROSS 60

Grace’s women’s basketball team picked up its 11th win of the season with a 85-60 victory at Holy Cross on Saturday.

The Lady Lancers (11-3), who are getting votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, forced Holy Cross into 29 turnovers in a smothering defensive performance.

Kyannah Stull tied a career high with 27 points, adding 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. She nailed four 3-pointers.

The first quarter was a track meet; the teams combined for 50 points in the first 10-minute period.

Grace’s defense fueled a late spurt. Micaela Box made back-to-back steals in the final minute. Stull poured in seven points over the last 52 seconds, helping Grace to a 28-22 advantage by the end of the quarter.

The pace of Grace proved too much for the Saints in the second quarter. The Lady Lancers outscored Holy Cross by 11 in the period to grab a commanding 51-34 lead at halftime.

The Saints (5-11) turned the ball over nine times in the second quarter.

Stull and Kamryn Hostetler were a deadly duo in the first half. The guards combined to score 30 points, making 10-of-13 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the 3-point line.

Stull had 17 points at halftime, Hostetler had 13 points, and Kaylie Warble scored nine.

The Saints did their best to rally in the second half. Holy Cross found its mark from the 3-point line in the third quarter, slicing Grace’s cushion to 10 with 2:30 left in the period.

Grace held a 64-54 lead going into the final period.

The Lady Lancers’ defense locked up the Saints in the fourth quarter. Holy Cross was handcuffed to six points in the quarter as Grace’s pressure broke down the Saints.

Grace started the period with a 10-0 run, sparked by five points from Stull. The Lady Lancers never looked back en route to a 25-point win.

The Saints shot just 2-for-14 in the fourth quarter with seven turnovers; Holy Cross did not make a field goal for the final 5:37 of regulation.

Hostetler finished with 19 points and two steals, hitting 3-of-6 on 3-pointers, and Warble had a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards. Warble shot 4-of-5 from the floor in her double-double.

Vironnica Drake added 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Maddie Ryman scored eight points off the bench, and Lexi Minix tallied 4 points, 4 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals.

The Lady Lancers shot 44 percent from the floor compared to 37 percent for the Saints.

The Lady Lancers remain on the road. Grace will travel to Asbury, who is receiving votes along with Grace in the NAIA poll. The game at Asbury is on Monday at 12 p.m.