G. Michael Graham Photo. The Newport Central Catholic coaches including Head Coach Grant Brannen (black sweatshirt) and players go through their pre-game routine Saturday. The Thoroughbreds defeated the Newport Wildcats, 61-54 for their seventh All "A" 9th Region crown in 10 years.
By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
BELLEVUE – The
All “A” 9th Region crown came back to where it has been seven of the previous
10 years.
But the
in-town 39th District rivals did not let them run away with it. The Newport
Central Catholic Thoroughbreds made the plays down the stretch to hold off the
Newport Wildcats, 61-54 here Saturday.
“Give Newport credit,” said Grant Brannen, NewCath head coach. “Right when you felt like you had them,
they hit three after three after three. (The Wildcats) did what they had to do
to get back in the game. Also give our guys credit. Our backcourt did a good
job in that last quarter.”
The game
did not resemble anything close to the Jan. 2 contest that NewCath handled
Newport, 80-51 on The Hill. The Wildcats (13-5) won five in a row since that
contest.
In the
tight game, every little thing mattered. Both teams saw three players reach
double-digits. But the Thoroughbreds made enough free throws to take care of
the Wildcats.
The Thoroughbreds
committed just 10 fouls to 20 for the Wildcats. NewCath made 18-of-25 for 72
percent compared to 3-of-6 for 50 percent for Newport. Newport had one player
foul out as it had to foul trailing in the final minutes and one finished with
four for NewCath.
Tournament
Most Valuable Player Michael Bueter came up huge again for the Thoroughbreds.
He finished with 21 points making two three-pointers and 7-of-10 free throws to
go with five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Bueter
spurred the key 7-0 run that put the Thoroughbreds up for good. He made a
three-pointer the hit a lay-up to give NewCath a 53-48 lead with 1:51 remaining
before Zach Pangallo hit two free throws to extend the margin to 55-48 with
36.3 seconds left.
“I was looking to get make a big basket the entire
game to get us going,” Seibert said. “When I made that, it made everyone calm
and cool again. We got focused and got ourselves the win.”
But Newport
hit consecutive three-pointers to trim the margin to 55-54 with 17 seconds
left. Pangallo hit two more free throws with 16 seconds left to make the score
57-54.
Newport had
a chance to tie the game on a three-pointer but JaQuan Short traveled giving
the ball back to the Thoroughbreds. Bueter hit two more free throws and another
pair after another Newport miss in the game’s final 10.5 seconds to put the
game away.
Pangallo
and center Drew McDonald also made the all-tournament team for NewCath.
McDonald scored 11 and Pangallo added 10 making 6-of-6 free throws.
The guards
had to come up huge because Newport collapsed on McDonald and Jake Schulte
inside because Nick Seibert is out with an injury. Schulte scored just six
points but did grab 12 rebounds as NewCath won that battle, 32-21. Schulte may
return as early as Tuesday.
JaSean
Short led Newport with 21 points making two three-pointers. Teammate Marquis
Commodore led the Wildcat rally with five three-pointers for 15 points and
JaQuan Short scored 10 on two three-pointers. Commodore hit a triple with 3:24
left in the game to tie the score at 48.
“(With) the way they spread you out, they’re going to
get open looks,” Brannen said. “They’re tough to guard, especially when
they knock down shots like they did in the second half. If you’d have told me
they’d hit six or seven three-pointers in the second half, I’d have probably
said we’re in trouble. But our guys sustained (the lead) and I was proud of
them.”
NewCath led
13-12 after the first quarter and built a lead toward halftime. The
Thoroughbreds finished the half with an 8-0 run to erase a 20-19 deficit. Devoto
started the rally with a three-pointer on his way to eight points. Schulte
added a bucket with McDonald making a bucket and 1-of-2 free throws during that
run.
McDonald
had a steal and score to give NewCath a 29-20 lead. But Newport rallied to take
the lead. JaSean Short hit a three-point play with 1:43 left to give the
Wildcats a 39-35 lead.
But NewCath
took the lead back entering the fourth quarter. Bueter made two free throws and
Devoto made his other three-pointer with four seconds left in the third to put
NewCath up 40-39.
“We (guards) just have to step up our game every
night,” Devoto said. “Luckily, (Saturday) was my night to knock
down two clutch threes.”
The Thoroughbreds
made 19-of-38 shots for 50 percent, including five three-pointers and the
Wildcats made 21-of-47 shots for 45 percent with nine three-pointers. Ben Weyer
also hit a triple for NewCath.
NewCath
travels to Highlands (7-11) on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The All “A”
state championship at the Frankfort Convention Center begins Thursday with the
Thoroughbreds battling 12th Region champion Somerset (14-5) at 6:30
p.m.
NCC girls 57, Mason County 47:
The
Thoroughbreds (15-4) ventured to Maysville and snatched the non-region win over
the improved Lady Royals (11-6).
Mason
County played man-to-man defense, but could not match up with Nikki Kiernan.
The junior standout recorded a double-double of 28 points, 13 rebounds and four
blocked shots. Kiernan made both three-point shots, all six free throws and
10-of-19 from the field for about 53 percent.
“We didn’t play bad,” said George Stoll, NewCath head coach. “We wanted to get the ball to (Kiernan).
They had a tough time staying with her.”
Kiernan had
plenty of help. Alexus Mayes added 10 points and six rebounds with Michaela
Ware adding six points, four assists and three steals.
NewCath
made its free throws down the stretch. The Thoroughbreds made 16-of-20 for 80
percent. Loren Zimmerman made 3-of-4 down the stretch.
Mason
County saw one player reach double-digits. That was Alivia Bierley with a
double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
NewCath
opens the All “A” state tournament in Frankfort against Pineville (14-7) on
Wednesday. Game time is 1 p.m.
.JPG)
