Northwestern was playing catch-up for most of the game last Thursday night against nonleague foe Panther Valley.

Unfortunately for the host Tigers, they were never able to catch the Panthers.

Northwestern went 5-for-24 from the field in the first half, including a four-point first quarter, which set up an up-hill battle the Tigers weren't able to conquer as Panther Valley took the victory, 55-46.

The game was scoreless for the first 2:28 until the Panthers struck first led nearly the rest of the way except for 21 seconds of in the first quarter when Northwestern clung to a 4-3 lead.

The Tigers (1-5, 3-6) were down 11 at halftime and got as close as seven midway through the fourth, but their poor shooting and questionable decision making on the court mixed with Pantehr Valley going 24 for 29 from the free throw line prohibited the Tigers from making a real push.

"Our offense wasn't very good," said head coach Dan Eddinger. "Our shot selection wasn't very good. The screen game didn't work. We settled a lot. We didn't run the offense over and over again until we got something good."

For Northwestern, juniors Taylor Breininger and Logan Schwartz each dropped 10 points. Senior Cam Richardson and junior Josh Williamson both had six.

"Mostly it was lackadaisical offense," Richardson said. "We didn't run our offense that well and we didn't have a great night shooting. Our defense wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either."

Northwestern made multiple attempts to strike a comeback, but Panther Valley always had an answer and never let the Tigers take the momentum of the game.

Eddinger was also not pleased with the lack of trips the Tigers made to the free throw line as they only made 15 compared to Panther Valley's 29.

Being 3-6 at this juncture was not what Eddinger had in mind and he knows it creates a tough road ahead.

"We are running out of time," said the third-year head coach. "We are nine games into it with 13 left. We have to find ways to win against the South Division [of the Colonial League]. Tonight was a must-win and we didn't get it."

With a bit of a holiday break, the Tigers' next game is Friday at Wilson.

"I just told these kids that everything is open," said Eddinger. "Guys that want to play and play my style of basketball will play from here on out. There may be some changes, there may not."

Eddinger commended senior Collin Breidinger for his work as an undersized big man as he had four points and seven rebounds against Panther Valley. The rest of the roster, however, is filled with shorter, younger players.

"Other than our two seniors, the rest are juniors and sophomores," Eddinger said. "I may have to take a look at them and let them play instead of sit on the bench. Maybe of sit on the bench. Maybe I will see a point guard or a shooting guard not doing something I'm comfortable with, then I need to find someone who won't do that and send a message. Hopefully it spreads like wildfire throughout the whole program."

PANTHER VALLEY

Dubosky 3-6-10-12, Szczecina 3-1-2-8, Kusko 4-7-9-16, Stano 3-4-4-12, Ferryman 1-1-4-3, Nace 2-0-0-4, Vermillion 0-0-0-0. Totals: 16-24-29-55

NORTHWESTERN

Archer 0-0-0-0, Williamson 3-0-1-6, Mengel 2-0-0-5, Jones 1-0-1-3, Breininger 4-2-2-10, Breidinger 2-0-2-4, Schwartz 3-1-4-10, Richardson 2-0-4-6, Markovitch 1-0-1-2. Totals: 18-3-15-46

Panther Valley 13 9 14 19 - 55

Northwestern 4 7 18 17 - 46

Three-Pointers: PV- Szczecina 1, Kusco 1, Tano 1; NW- Mengel 1, Jones 1, Schwartz 3, Richardson 2.