“It’s probably safe to say that as far as the Meridian Trojans are concerned, a Nehf is enough. More than enough. Josh Nehf, a 6-foot-2 junior on the South Whidbey boys basketball team, not only poured in a game-high 23 points while pulling down eight rebounds, but also delivered a momentum-killing, six-point play as the Falcons stunned Meridian 72-58 at Erikson Gymnasium Friday.The victory lifts South Whidbey to 2-3 and into fourth place in the North Cascades Conference and to 3-6 overall. Those three wins so far equal last year’s win total for the season. Meridian slipped to 2-3, 2-5.After Eli Slesk tossed in his sixth three-point basket of the game to pull the Trojans to within five at 60-55 with 1:30 to play, Meridian’s Jeff Bennum was called for a reaching foul on Nehf. Bennum, who as the state’s Class 2A player of the year quarterbacked the Trojans to an undefeated season – including a 67-0 win over South Whidbey – and the state football championship, then pretty much fumbled away his team’s chance for a comeback by getting called for a technical foul with 1:20 to go.To make matters worse, Meridian’s coach tried to act as Bennum’s courtside lawyer–unsuccessfully–and he too was nailed with a technical. And since Bennum’s personal was the Trojans’ 10th of the half, it resulted in an automatic two shots, sending Nehf to the line for six free throws.With the Falcon faithful cheering him on, Nehf coaxed all six foul shots into the hoop, giving South Whidbey a 66-55 lead and the ball. Hard-working defensive specialist Jamie Watson then scored his only basket of the game to make it 68-55 before Meridian countered with its final points to close the gap to 68-58. Another free throw by Nehf, two by Brian Moote and one by Lai Saephan then wrapped up the Falcons’ 27-point, fourth-quarter explosion. And the win.“It’s been a gradual process, but they continue to get better,” said Falcon coach Brian Kissinger. “They are more confident, especially on the defensive end. They believe in what we are doing and that’s important.”In addition to Nehf, who connected on 7-of-11 field goals and 9-of-11 free throws, the Falcons also got a great performance from 6-4 senior Daniel Levine. Levine scored 21 points and took game rebounding honors with 10. Saephan, who got the Falcons rolling with 11 first-quarter points – including three threes in the last two minutes of the opening period – finished with 12 points.“Josh (Nehf) is one guy who doesn’t play cute. He’s just goes straight to the hole,” said Kissinger. “He does a good job of getting position.”The Falcons shot a season-best from the field, hitting 48 percent (23-of-48) and out rebounded Meridian 40-27.But while the one-two offensive punch of Nehf and Levine may have produced the most visible heroics for the Falcons, it was Watson’s tenacious defense that set the stage. In the three games since his return from a three-week absence, the 6-2 senior has scored only 4, 1 and 2 points, respectively. But South Whidbey, which opened the season 1-5 in his absence, has won two of those three and lost the other by just three points since his return.“He makes a big difference in the team, “ said Kissinger. “He’s able to play against quicker people, he’s in the passing lanes and he makes a lot of plays that people don’t notice.”The Falcons traveled to Granite Falls Tuesday and Mount Baker Friday for a pair of NCC games.Box scoreMeridian –13 20 8 17 – 58S. Whidbey — 21 12 12 27 – 72Scoring: Nehf 23, Levine 21, Saephan 12, Moote 6, Murphy 4, Priest 2, Gabelein 2, Watson 2. “