N. Falls remains on top

Kurtis Drummond came off the bench to lead Hubbard with 14 points.

By JIM FLICK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HUBBARD — In a game that was a hard-fought battle until the final seconds, Newton Falls secured its lead in the Trumbull Athletic Conference by beating Hubbard 64-58 Friday.

Nik Kaley and Todd Medallis each scored 18 points to pace the winners (13-3, 10-0 Trumbull Athletic Conference) while 6-10 Marcus Fowler scored 13 points, blocked five shots and caused problems for the Eagles all night.

Hubbard replied with a multi-pronged attack led by Kurtis Drummond, who came off the bench to lead his team with 14 points.

Marc Kanetsky scored 11 points and Corey Hitt tallied 10 points.

The Tiger burst out to an early lead, outscoring the Eagles 9-5 in the first quarter and 20-10 in the second to lead 29-15 at halftime.

The game seemed to be out of reach for Hubbard after Medallis stole the ball late in the second quarter and broke away for a lay-up that put Newton Falls’ lead at 27-8.

But the Eagles rallied in the second half. Hubbard increased its defensive pressure on the Tigers, often employing a full-court press.

At the same time, the Eagles’ offense came to life. In the second half Hubbard outscored Newton Falls 43-35.

While the Eagles never quite closed the gap, Kanetsky cut the lead to 60-58 with when he nailed a 3-pointer with 16.6 remaining. But Newton Falls connected on four free throws in the fading moments to secure the win.

“It got close because we missed free throws,” Newton Falls coach Roy Sembach said after the game. “But when it got down to do or die, we put them in.”

Sembach thanked his assistant coaches for running practices preparing for the game, because he was unavailable to due to the death of his sister, Celia Sembach.

“My kids played great, they never gave up,” Hubbard coach Rick Fox said. “But we kind of got tired out. And Newton Falls has a number of excellent players.”