Newton Falls beats Struthers with second-half surge

February 18, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

NEWTON FALLS

A strong second half propelled host Newton Falls to a 59-42 victory over Struthers on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats led 15-9 after one quarter and carried a two-point lead into the half, but the Tigers owned the final 16 minutes of the game en route to a decisive victory.

Jaden Walton’s hot shooting led the way for Newton Falls. He scored 17 points, Adam Czerniak battled inside for 12 and Austin Brown scored 10 in a balanced attack.

“We played with a little more energy and a little more assertiveness,” said Newton Falls coach Roy Sembach of the second-half surge. “We were a little lax after coming off a tough loss to our rival, LaBrae, [last] Friday.

“I just thought we came out not as aggressive as we needed to be, but I thought in the second half it was important to be the team that came out more assertive and would have a good chance. I thought we did that.”

After Struthers guard Ray Phifer scored from everywhere to give his team the first-half edge, Walton scored 11 second-quarter points of his own, including a last-second 3-pointer to give the Tigers some momentum into the locker room.

Newton Falls then scored the first eight points of the second half.

Brown (twice), Walton and Czerniak each scored before Phifer finally got Struthers on the second-half scoreboard with a steal and layup with 3:58 to go in the quarter.

Walton drilled another 3-pointer from the left wing to give Falls a 35-26 lead and Phifer came back with another steal and layup. But Marcus Lard — as he did much of the evening — drove the lane for a basket to put the Tigers ahead 37-28 with under a minute to go.

The Wildcats were limited to three Phifer baskets and turned the ball over four times.

“Speechless, honestly,” said Struthers coach Jim Francheschelli. “It’s very frustrating that, at the end of the year, we can’t execute and make easy ‘bunnies’ and finish around the hoop.”

The fourth quarter brought more of the same as Falls elevated the defensive pressure. Phifer, thanks to constant switching and pressure from all angles, was finally contained and the Tigers ran with Lard leading the way.

A seven-point lead quickly became 16 after the Struthers bench received a technical foul with 5:44 remaining. Czerniak made both resulting free throws and then found Ben Simpson underneath once they got the ball back.

“I thought our three-quarter court pressure got us moving as much as maybe got them out of their rhythm a little bit,” Sembach said.

Phifer led Struthers with 21 points and Austin Yemma scored 11.