The boys basketball team started the 2026 calendar year off with a road game to Trent Arena on the campus of Kettering Fairmont High School last Friday. Coach Allen Spears knew the Bolts would have a challenging opponent facing the Fairmont Firebirds.

“I knew there was a possibility of the game being close…it is difficult the simulate the energy necessary in a league game in practice”.

Fairmont was coming off of a loss to Tri-Village after Christmas and was hungry to get back to winning. The Firebirds went to a 2-3 zone and forced the Bolts to get shots over the zone. Fairmont would jump out to a 10-4 lead before Northmont closed the gap and led 13-12 at the first quarter break. The zone slowed down the Bolts and took them out of the their comfort zone of playing up-and-down.

“I told our guys to lean on their defense and let our defense turn into our offense”, Coach Spears said on responding to the start.

Both teams would play even through the 2nd quarter and the Bolts would lead 26-25 at the half.

Out of the half, Northmont would build a lead by as much as 6 points. But every time the Bolts found some energy, Fairmont would counter. Late in the quarter, the Firebirds led by 1. But with 3 seconds left, sophomore Ja’Kye Hoard caught a pass and took 2 dribbles into a fadeaway 3 to give the Bolts back the lead at the 3rd quarter break 44-42.

In the final period, the Bolts held on as the game went back-and-forth with the lead never extending past 4 points. Northmont would win 59-56 to earn their 6th straight victory and move to 6-3 overall. The win keeps the Bolts in a 3-way tie with Centerville and Wayne at the top of the GWOC standings. Sophomore Kaleb Kelly led all scoring with 17 points in the win.

JV held on to win 44-37 in their game against the Firebirds and earn their 5th straight win. Sophomore Josiah Williams led with 10 points in the win.

Freshmen fell 58-38 in their game. Marcus Lindsey scored 12 points in the loss.

All 3 teams return to action at Miamisburg this Tuesday, January 6th.