Inside and out, Newton Falls topples Champion, 62-48
The Tigers will play
Pymatuning Valley on
Saturday for the district title.
By JIM FLICK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HOWLAND — Behind long-range sharp-shooting, the Newton Falls High basketball team burst out to big first-quarter lead over Champion Thursday in a Division III district semifinal game.
With the lead in hand, the Tigers’ bulkier players took over down the stretch, as Newton Falls defeated Champion 62-48 to earn a berth in the Division III championship game
Newton Falls will face Pymatuming Valley (21-1) Satuday at 7 p.m. at Howland High School.
The Tigers’ 6-foot-11, 295-pound center, Marcus Fowler, controlled the opening tip and was fed the ball down low, but passed off to guard Jae Leeworthy. Leeworthy nailed a jumper to score the game’s first points.
The “Mr. Inside-Mr. Outside” act continued throughout the game, as Leeworthy and Fowler each scored 15 points to share the scoring lead for Newton Falls. Leeworthy was the team’s first-half scoring leader with 10 points, including two 3-point shots. Leeworthy zeroed in for three 3-pointers for the game.
Meanwhile, Fowler was the Tigers’ top scorer in the second half with 11 points, scoring short-range field goals and from the foul line. Fowler also was the game’s top rebounder, grabbing eight missed shots.
Behind Fowler’s efforts, Newton Falls out-rebounded Champion 30-22.
Newton Falls’ lead grew to 21-8 late in the first quarter and bulged to 34-21 at halftime.
In addition to Leeworthy’s early efforts, Tamir Grogan scored three field goals on driving lay-ups in the lane in the first half. Todd Medallis added two baskets on long-range shots in the first half, while Brian Sole added a first-half three-pointer.
The pace slowed in the third quarter, as Newton Falls outscored Champion 10-9 to lead 44-30 at the three-quarter mark.
Champion turned on a full-court press frequently in the fourth quarter, but the defensive pressure’s impact on the Tigers’ efforts was minimal.
With less than five minutes remaining, the Tigers broke the press and passed the ball under the basket to Fowler. Fowler slammed home a dunk to put Champion in front 51-34. The dunk energized the Tigers and brought the crowd to it feet.
A few minutes later, Fowler rebounded a teammate’s missed free throw and tossed in a field goal that put the Tigers in front 56-35.
The Golden Flashes’ Markel Vaughn scored two field goals and connected on four free throws in the final minutes to cut the Tigers’ lead to 59-48. Vaughn was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points.
“The players just followed our game plan,” said Newton Falls coach Roy Sembach, adding that the game plan included the Tigers’ long-range shooting in the first half.
Besides Leeworthy’s shooting, Sembach credited Medallis’ first-half efforts as a key to building the Tigers’ lead. “Todd [Medallis] makes a lot happen.”
Regarding his massive center, Sembach said, “I thought Marcus [Fowler] played well for use early, and he finished well. Marcus was very patient. He’s learned to take what’s there.
“You can’t get behind Newton Falls and expect to win,” Champion coach Dan Bubon said. “Once you get behind them, you’re done.”
Fowler “changes shots because he’s so massive,” Bubon said. “He controls the entire game on defense by clogging up the lane.”