Dillon puts his name in record books for N. Falls

February 18, 2012 at 12:08a.m.

Newton Falls

It could not have been scripted much better.

Senior night at Newton Falls High and the Tigers’ seven boys basketball seniors — including four-year starter Chad Dillon — were honored in pregame festivities.

Then, with 1:20 remaining in Newton Falls’ 70-44 rout of Lakeview, came the big moment. Dillon sank the first of two free throws and became the all-time leading scorer in Tiger basketball history, breaking the record of 1,392 set by 1970 graduate Gerald Lenarcic.

“It felt good. Definitely I’ve been working hard for it since I was a freshman so it’s definitely worth the effort of working for four years,” Dillon said. “I didn’t know how close I was. I don’t think coach thought I was going to get it because it took 30 to get it. I’m glad I did on my last game at home and senior night. It felt good.”

Dillon also made the second free throw to finish with 31 points for the Tigers (16-3, 8-2 All-American Conference National Division). He added 10 rebounds and four assists and has 1,394 career points with one regular season game remaining.

“Obviously he’s been a vital player. Cody has started for four years and in that time we’ve gone 36-3 on this floor,” Newton Falls coach Roy Sembach said. “He can do everything. He can shoot the ball from outside, he can drive it, he finishes, he plays good defense, he rebounds, he’s one of our leaders in assists. He is just a great all-around player who I think can still keep getting a little better every day. We’re working on different things all the time and I think his best basketball is ahead of him.”

Mitchell Kovach and Matt Brazin backed Dillon with 12 points each. Brazin added five steals and Kovach had seven rebounds.

Lakeview (11-9, 6-4 National) was led by Anthony Franco with 14 points. Elijah Henderson contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

“In the third quarter I don’t think they scored in the first three minutes, but we only had two points,” Lakeview coach George Lanterman said. “That’s what we talked about at halftime, how we needed to come out in the third quarter and just keep gutting it out. I like the way we came out but we just couldn’t put it in offensively.

Dillon thanked those who have supported him during his high school career.

“I have two older brothers who have always been on me telling me I’m better than both of them and I can achieve the goals I’ve set,” he said. “My teammates have been great the whole time. I try to get them the ball as much as possible because I know I take a lot of shots. I try to get them involved and I’m very thankful for the teammates I’ve had for letting me take the type of shots that I do.”