01-24-2009, 12:32 AM
01-24-2009, 01:14 PM
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...901240404/
Earlier this week, in the Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic Ninth Region quarterfinals, the Newport boys' basketball played the role of favorite. The Wildcats started slow and finished adequately.
On Friday, they again played the role of favorite. This time they started fast and finished emphatically. In the process, they earned the program's first trip to the All "A" regional final since 2000 with a 64-29 victory over Dayton.
They'll play Newport Central Catholic at 7:30 p.m. today at Newport in search of their first regional title in the tournament.
"This is big for the program," said Newport senior center David Darnell. "For the past 18 years a Catholic school has always won it. We want to win one for the public schools. We've had our eyes on this tournament since before the season started. And now we've got a chance to win it."
Darnell helped send Newport into the finals in style.
Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Wildcats leading 53-22, Darnell through an alley-oop pass to junior forward Anthony Luther, who finished with a two-hand dunk. A minute later Darnell got free for another dunk.
"That felt great," he said. "We wanted to come out early and take care of business. That's what we did. So we were able to have a little fun late in the game."
Newport led Dayton 35-5 at the half. It was a marked contrast to Tuesday night's quarterfinal, when the Wildcats led Heritage by just three points midway through the third quarter before pulling away for a 77-63 victory.
"We didn't play very good defense," Newport coach Erik Goetz said. "I told our guys that we wanted to come out tonight and shut Dayton down and show that we can play defense. The other night we didn't defend or rebound. We did tonight."
Newport grabbed three offensive rebounds on its first possession alone before finally opening the scoring on a Cody Collins baseline jumper. The rout was on.
Newport opened the game on a 16-0 run and led 18-2 at the end of the first quarter. It then outscored Dayton 19-3 in the second quarter.
Darnell led Newport with 18 points. Junior forward Casey McDaniel chipped in with nine points and 10 rebounds. Collins finished with 14.
Collins was the hero the first time Newport met NewCath this season. The junior forward banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Thoroughbreds 60-59 three weeks ago.
Dayton (9-6) - Turner 2 0 4, Thornton 3 0 7, Massey 1 0 3, Easton 3 1 9, Smith 0 2 2, Bowden 2 0 4. Totals 11 3 29.
Newport (10-9) - T. Jones 1 0 3, Carter 1 0 2, Tucker 1 0 2, Luther 2 2 6, McDaniel 4 1 9, Greene 4 1 10, Darnell 6 5 18, Collins 6 2 14. Totals 25 11 64.
Dayton 2 3 13 11 -29
Newport 18 17 10 19 -64
3-pointers: D 4 (Thornton, Masey, Easton 2); N 3 (T. Jones, Greene, Darnell)
Earlier this week, in the Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic Ninth Region quarterfinals, the Newport boys' basketball played the role of favorite. The Wildcats started slow and finished adequately.
On Friday, they again played the role of favorite. This time they started fast and finished emphatically. In the process, they earned the program's first trip to the All "A" regional final since 2000 with a 64-29 victory over Dayton.
They'll play Newport Central Catholic at 7:30 p.m. today at Newport in search of their first regional title in the tournament.
"This is big for the program," said Newport senior center David Darnell. "For the past 18 years a Catholic school has always won it. We want to win one for the public schools. We've had our eyes on this tournament since before the season started. And now we've got a chance to win it."
Darnell helped send Newport into the finals in style.
Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Wildcats leading 53-22, Darnell through an alley-oop pass to junior forward Anthony Luther, who finished with a two-hand dunk. A minute later Darnell got free for another dunk.
"That felt great," he said. "We wanted to come out early and take care of business. That's what we did. So we were able to have a little fun late in the game."
Newport led Dayton 35-5 at the half. It was a marked contrast to Tuesday night's quarterfinal, when the Wildcats led Heritage by just three points midway through the third quarter before pulling away for a 77-63 victory.
"We didn't play very good defense," Newport coach Erik Goetz said. "I told our guys that we wanted to come out tonight and shut Dayton down and show that we can play defense. The other night we didn't defend or rebound. We did tonight."
Newport grabbed three offensive rebounds on its first possession alone before finally opening the scoring on a Cody Collins baseline jumper. The rout was on.
Newport opened the game on a 16-0 run and led 18-2 at the end of the first quarter. It then outscored Dayton 19-3 in the second quarter.
Darnell led Newport with 18 points. Junior forward Casey McDaniel chipped in with nine points and 10 rebounds. Collins finished with 14.
Collins was the hero the first time Newport met NewCath this season. The junior forward banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Thoroughbreds 60-59 three weeks ago.
Dayton (9-6) - Turner 2 0 4, Thornton 3 0 7, Massey 1 0 3, Easton 3 1 9, Smith 0 2 2, Bowden 2 0 4. Totals 11 3 29.
Newport (10-9) - T. Jones 1 0 3, Carter 1 0 2, Tucker 1 0 2, Luther 2 2 6, McDaniel 4 1 9, Greene 4 1 10, Darnell 6 5 18, Collins 6 2 14. Totals 25 11 64.
Dayton 2 3 13 11 -29
Newport 18 17 10 19 -64
3-pointers: D 4 (Thornton, Masey, Easton 2); N 3 (T. Jones, Greene, Darnell)