Northwest Indy wins gold ball game over Green Country: Game Report

Northwest Indy's Alex Long was fantastic Wednesday

I don't know if Northwest Indy coach Will Tolbert remembers telling me last year that he was ready to get his team "back to this place," referring to the showcase court on "gold ball day" at nationals. But one year later, his team was there.  And they were ready!  Alex Long played inspired basketball, leading his Warriors to a Class A gold ball championship Wednesday over the Green Country Defenders.

Coach Tolbert is not only one of the nicest guys every year in Springfield.  He is also one of the best coaches.  There have been times when his team plays a slower, more deliberate style.  This team plays very fast.  I heard Rob Flatt say on the broadcast of this game that the up tempo style Northwest Indy and the Indianapolis Wildcats play may be the "future of Indiana homeschool basketball."  If this is so, it will be very entertaining!

But coach Tolbert is not the only coach hoping to have even more success this year than last.  Jeff Francisco's Green Country Defenders won the entire tournament last season in a lower division.  And despite playing without injured dynamo Devin Ponder, the Defenders advanced to Wednesday's gold ball game after beating top seeded KC Metro.

And after trailing by double digits early, the Defenders staged two comebacks, including one late in the game to have a chance to win on the final possession.  But this year belonged to Northwest Indy just a little bit more than Green Country, although both teams played like true champs.