Newton Falls stays perfect in TAC

The Tigers had to hold off a 3-point shooting spree by Champion, 55-49.

By DOUG CHAPIN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

CHAMPION — Two hustle plays down the stretch keyed Newton Falls High as the Tigers stayed unbeaten in the Trumbull Athletic Conference, holding off Champion, 55-49, Friday night.

Yes, 6-foot-11 junior Marcus Fowler scored 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and the Tigers’ outstanding zone defense forced the Golden Flashes to attempt 30 3-point attempts.

And yes, the home team cut an 18-point Falls lead to three late in the game, connecting on 11 of those 3-point tries, seven in the second half.

But still, the most important plays were two loose-ball recoveries by the Tigers (7-3, 4-0 TAC).

“It was strange, I didn’t think we rebounded well in the fourth quarter but it seemed we got every loose ball,” Falls coach Roy Sembach said. “When that ball was on the floor we were on it and we were after it. That’s Tiger basketball, and that’s the effort we are used to seeing and like to see.”

With Falls ahead 50-46, Nik Kaley was at the line for the Tigers, shooting a one-and-one with 1:17 left in the game. He missed the free throw, but the rebound was batted around until Kaley dove on the ball in the corner.

Cameron McCleary then missed a jumper in the key, and again the rebound ended up on the floor. This time, Todd Medallis, back after missing four games with an injury, went to the floor to get the ball for the Tigers.

Champion (8-2, 2-2) was forced to foul, and Medallis sank both ends of a one-and-one with 39 seconds to play to make the score 52-46. Falls made three more free throws down the stretch to counter a final Champion 3-pointer.

Kaley finished with 10 rebounds and eight points, and McCleary contributed four assists and seven points. Medallis also had seven points.

Falls recorded with a 33-17 edge in rebounds and the Tigers shot 50 percent (20-of-40).

The visitors opened a 13-7 lead after one quarter and led 28-16 at the half. With Fowler patrolling the middle, the Tigers’ 2-3 zone is difficult to attack. The lead reached 36-18 with 4:24 left in the third quarter. From that point, the Flashes made six of their next 14 3-point attempts to get within three at 47-44.

Joe Cvengros led Champion’s offense with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Markel Vaughn and Derek Sumner scored 12 points each as both nailed a quartet of 3-pointers. Sean Sumner dished out five assists.

“We didn’t handle the zone well the whole game,” Champion coach Dan Bubon said. “It’s hard to convince our guys that we need to attack the big guy in the middle, and make him move. We really never did. The only difference in the second half is we hit the outside shots. We needed to get something inside and we never really did. You’re not going to live on making outside shots the whole game.”

Tempo was a big factor in the game, according to both coaches.

“We knew we had a size advantage inside with Marcus,” Sembach said. “They tried to speed the tempo of the game to get us playing quicker. When we took quick outside shots, not only did it hurt our offense, but they like playing up and down and they started shooting better. When we had them standing around against our zone in the first half, their shots weren’t going in.”

“We want the game to be ragged against them and they want it controlled so they can pound it inside,” Bubon said. “We did a better job of that [in the second half] but we just fell too far behind. But even with that I thought we had our hands on the ball twice, down three or four, and just dropped rebounds that they ended up getting. And then we allowed two foul line rebounds, which is unacceptable.”

Sembach said his team is happy to be 4-0 in the league, but knows there is a long way to go.

“Every game in this league is a war, especially on the road. You just have to take them one at a time and every one you get, you’re very happy, and then you move on to the next one. We’re very pleased to be where we are but it means absolutely nothing yet in the long run. We have to worry about Girard on Tuesday night.”