12/17/2015
Print Version:Newark boys basketball post eighth straight win
By CHRISTINE BOLIN DASCHER - [email protected]
Newark boys basketball post eighth straight win
Norsemen top Plano, 51-36
The Newark boys' basketball team came out fast and ready at home against Plano on Tuesday, and after the 51-36 victory
over the Reapers, the Norsemen are now 8-1 overall and on an eight-game winning streak.
Although the win wasn't exactly pretty, the Norsemen were able to get the job done. They are hoping to enter the Plano
Christmas Classic on a nine-game winning streak after Friday's game against Kirkland-Hiawatha.
"We feel good about this one, even though we were a little off," said Newark junior Will Clausel, who scored 12 points. "The
offense wasn't that smooth, but we played good enough (defense) and got enough chippy buckets to win this one."
For Plano, the loss moved the Reapers to 2-5 overall.
"Newark is definitely going to be one of the favorites to win (the Plano Christmas Classic)," Plano head coach Kyle Kee said.
"They are a fun team to watch, and it would be nice to see them again on our floor. They have everything you need to have a
good team."
After a 2-2 tie in the opening minute, Newark led the entire way. The Norsemen went on a 13-0 run in the first and led 15-2
after a putback from Cam Myre with 3:30 left in the quarter.
Plano responded with an 8-0 run, led by senior Dahveed McKinney's six points, but after one quarter, Newark led 17-10.
Plano was able to reduce the Newark lead to three points twice in the first four minutes of the second quarter, but after backto-back buckets from Evan Schomer in the final minute of the first half, the Norsemen led 29-20 at the break.
Both teams were off to a slow start in the second half. After buckets from Myre and Plano's Marcus Ramirez in the first three
minutes, neither team was able to score until 2:17 remained in the third quarter. That's when Schomer's basket put Newark
ahead, 33-22.
After a three-pointer from Myre and basket from Schomer (19 points, 11 rebounds), Newark led 38-24 going into the final
frame. Newark led by as much as 16 points three times in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, as Plano was never
able to reduce the lead to single digits.
Ramirez led Plano with 16 points. He scored 14 of the Reapers' 16 second half points. Contreras provided a nice spark off
the bench with 10 points.
"It was just one of those games where it was really physical - (Plano) is very athletic," Newark head coach Rick Tollefson
said. "If some of those shots around the rim went in, it's a very different game."
Notes: Newark was given the No. 4 seed at the Plano Christmas Classic ahead of No. 1 LaSalle-Peru, Burlington Central
and Ottawa. The Norsemen will play the winner of Streator/No. 13 Indian Creek on Dec. 26. The rest of the games are to be
determined with the tournament wrapping up on Dec. 30.
Prior to Plano, Newark defeated Dwight (71-54 on Dec. 8) and Hinckley-Big Rock (89-41 on Friday). The Norsemen are 2-0
in Little Ten Conference play.
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