COVINGTON, Ga. — Each of Newton’s basketball groups are Candy 16 sure after incomes wins within the first spherical of the Class AAAAAA playoffs on Wednesday at dwelling.
The Woman Rams opened the day with a 59-45 win over the Paulding County Woman Patriots earlier than Newton’s boys staff defeated the Hillgrove Hawks 75-60.
In each instances, a dominant fourth quarter paved the best way for a Newton victory.
Woman Rams take down Woman Patriots regardless of Smith’s absence
Head coach Jawan Bailey and the Woman Rams took down a 20-win Paulding County squad on Wednesday, and did it with out one in all their main scorers in London Smith.
With Smith out, Newton acquired a powerful sport from senior Desiree Davis, who’s 17 factors led all gamers within the contest.
“Desiree is a ballplayer,” Bailey stated. “We’re speaking a few Division I basketball participant earlier than her harm. She has lots of ability, lots of know-how concerning the sport. Her massive factor proper now’s simply getting again into the form of taking part in this sport at a excessive stage. When she is clicking, she is nearly as good as anybody on the ground.”
It was a detailed sport within the early phases as the 2 groups have been neck-and-neck by way of the opening eight minutes.
After main 10-7 on the finish of the primary body, the Woman Rams started to create separation within the second quarter and it started with back-to-back three-pointers from Davis.
One other Woman Ram that had a powerful second quarter was senior Alissa Sandifer, who knocked down a pair of three-pointers that included a four-point play on a foul.
– photograph by Garrett Pitts
By halftime, Newton led 28-17 as all the Woman Rams’ factors within the body got here on three-pointers and free throws.
Within the second half, Paulding County started to make it shut once more.
Woman Patriots starters Alexus Wilson and Hope Johnson had notably sturdy third quarters as the 2 mixed for 12 factors.
Nevertheless, the Woman Rams stored tempo with the assistance of Davis, who erupted for 10 factors of her personal the body.
Exterior of Davis’ factors, a three-pointer from Zoey Jackson was the one different offensive output for Newton within the third quarter because the staff appeared to nonetheless be looking for offensive rhythm throughout the board.
As soon as the sport entered the ultimate body, Bailey and the Woman Rams discovered what they have been in search of.
Newton led 39-32 at the beginning of the fourth, and broke out for a 20-point quarter that ended with the Woman Rams profitable by 14 factors.
A number of Woman Rams had baskets within the closing body because it proved to be the staff’s greatest offensive quarter of the day.
Following the win, Bailey spoke about what went proper for the staff within the closing eight minutes of play.
“I feel [we were] simply lastly settling down,” Bailey stated. “We had lots of up-and-down basketball within the first three quarters. We had some stretches the place we performed properly however had some stretches the place we have been horrible. Within the fourth quarter we constantly performed properly on each ends of the basketball which we should always do all evening. However, higher late than by no means.”
– photograph by Garrett Pitts
Davis’ 17 factors led the best way for Newton within the win as Sandifer and Camille Information completed with 13 and 10 factors, respectively.
For the Woman Patriots, scoring was led by Johnson with 14 factors, Wilson and Lillie Harris ended with 13 factors apiece.
The win moved Newton to 21-5 on the season because the staff now advances to the Candy 16 — the spherical they made it to final 12 months earlier than falling to North Paulding.
The Woman Rams will go on the street to tackle the Norcross Woman Blue Devils(22-5) within the second spherical of the Class AAAAAA playoffs on Friday, Feb. 21.
Rams break it open late to defeat a scrappy Hillgrove staff
From the opening tipoff, it was a hard-fought battle between Newton and Hillgrove within the first spherical of the boys Class AAAAAA playoffs.
The Hawks managed to play stout protection and power just a few turnovers off the Rams that resulted in factors on the opposite finish early.
Hillgrove’s Timothy Maulden had a powerful opening quarter that featured a pair of three-pointers.
A number of Rams acquired concerned within the scoring early, however Ted Neal was taken off the courtroom by head coach Barry Browner shortly after the primary quarter because the senior was battling foul hassle.
With Neal off, the Rams and Hawks continued a detailed battle all the best way to halftime that ended with Newton main 30-26 on the break.
In Neal’s absence, Browner turned to senior Daniel Stephen, who acquired excessive reward from his head coach following the win.
“I gotta shout out Daniel Stephen,” Browner stated. “He has been harm all season, so coming into the senior 12 months we had excessive expectations for Daniel, however he was sort of banged up all season. He has been having actually good practices the previous couple of days and he was excited to get in and play as properly.”
When the third quarter started, Neal re-entered the sport and it appeared to be the jolt that the Rams wanted.
– photograph by Garrett Pitts
Though the Hawks managed to maintain it shut all through the third quarter regardless of a powerful displaying from each Neal and senior Zach Harden, the Rams ultimately broke it open with a giant second.
At the start of the ultimate quarter, Bryce Jackson was a number of steps behind the three-point line earlier than lofting a ball as much as Neal, who was sprinting to the basket earlier than leaping and slamming down an alley-oop.
Because the fitness center erupted, the play appeared to be the turning level on Wednesday, as the remainder of the fourth quarter was all Newton.
Neal, Harden and Marcus Smith mixed for 21 of Newton’s 23 fourth-quarter factors.
After the sport, Browner spoke about the kind of power a participant like Neal can carry and why Wednesday’s sport was much more particular to the senior.
“That’s what Ted does,” Browner stated. “Folks don’t notice that is Ted’s first playoff sport of his profession. His freshman 12 months, he was simply on the staff. Sophomore 12 months [he] ended the season early, he was harm. Junior 12 months, final 12 months [he was hurt] in fact. He was enthusiastic about this being his first alternative to play within the state playoff. He simply stated ‘Coach, I’m prepared.’ He was fired up. Anytime Ted has his power, he’s superior for us.”
Together with Neal and Stephen, Browner make clear the opposite sturdy performances from Wednesday.
“I imagine my guys stated Zach had 17-9-8, or one thing near that. Anytime Zach goes [it is great]. Jordan Inexperienced hit some massive pictures for us. Bryce Jackson stepped up and made some performs,” Browner stated. “Marcus Smith man, he’s our level guard, he is available in and does what he does.”
After a daily season full of matchups towards lots of the state’s premier groups, Browner credit that to the staff’s potential to battle by way of the adversity of a detailed playoff sport.
“I feel it’s our schedule,” Browner stated. “We’ve got eight losses this 12 months. Three of them are to Grayson, one is to Wheeler, Cedar Grove, Holy Innocents, Whitefield and we dropped one to South Gwinnett. We performed shut video games all season so I feel the fellows know find out how to reply. They’ve been on this fireplace earlier than. We performed lots of massive time video games, so I feel with the sport being shut we have been in a position to simply push by way of somewhat bit and simply discover our approach to win.”
Regardless of lacking virtually a complete quarter, Neal ended his day with a team-leading 21 factors.
Harden’s 17 factors adopted as Smith and Inexperienced ended with 13 and 11 factors, respectively.
Evan Mott and Bryson Jatta led the best way for Hillgrove with 19 and 12 factors, respectively.
The win moved Newton to 17-9 on the season and a spot within the Candy 16 — the around the staff made it to in 2024 earlier than falling to Ace Bailey and McEachern.
Within the Candy 16, the Rams will go on the street to tackle Peachtree Ridge(19-10) Saturday, Feb. 22. Newton and Peachtree Ridge performed early within the season with the Rams grabbing a slender 60-58 win.