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Hardy scores 35, Patrick adds 19 as North Farmington gets past Southfield A&T, 76-70
Farmington Hills – This time Amauri Hardy got help.
Most often left alone when the game is on the line, Hardy’s backcourt mate Karl Patrick scored 19 points to back Hardy’s 35 as North Farmington held off Southfield for the Arts and Technology, 76-70, in an Oakland Activities Association Red Division game at North Farmington on Thursday.
The two seniors teamed for 22 of the Raiders’ 28 points in the second quarter as North Farmington turned a 16-11 deficit into a 39-32 halftime lead.
Michael Flowers (21 points) pulled Southfield within 44-43 with a basket with 4:37 left in the third quarter before Hardy and Patrick again teamed to give the Raiders a cushion.
Patrick made his third 3-pointer of the game to increase North Farmington’s lead to 54-48 with 2:18 left. Hardy, who aveages 28.3 points, then scored his team’s final six points of the quarter to give the Raiders a 60-53 lead.
“I give (Hardy) credit,” North Farmington coach Todd Negoshian said. “Just the way he leads our guys. He toughs through it.
“We’re getting better defensively. Our young kids are getting experience.”
Hardy is the lone starter back from a team that reached the Class A final last season. He and Patrick are the only seniors who start, and both are transfers from Southfield A&T.
The Warriors closed within 68-66 on a basket by Brandon Rucker with 2:12 remaining but they turned the ball over on three of their next five possessions, all of which resulted in no points.
Kendall Hayes had a dunk and a free throw in the final 22 seconds to solidify the victory.
“Our decision-making was terrible,” Southfield A&T coach Mike Avery said. “Shot selection. Our shot selection killed us. Again. When we learn when to shoot we’ll be fine.”
North Farmington (4-7) is 1-2 in the division, the same as Southfield A&T (3-7).
