#4 Newark 68, #6 Westerville North 56 - Game Recap
WILDCATS CONTINUE THEIR CONSISTENCY WITH 26th DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP
COLUMBUS, Ohio - - Death. Taxes. Newark. That is the motto around interstate 270, this game was another shining example of the glowing resume he has cultivated for himself. The Wildcats came out in their striped pants and got right to business, jumping out to a quick lead before a dominant second quarter paved the way for a huge halftime lead that his team did not let slip away, finishing with a resounding 68-56 victory.
The 26th district championship for this program, the key word that comes to mind is consistency.
“I think the consistency of our program is that we play hard,” head coach Jeff Quackenbush said after the win, speaking to how his team continues to play at this level, “once you master that skill, good things happen to you.”
Westerville North fought out of a 6-0 hole to start the game, back-to-back three’s being the kickstarter for Newark, to tie the game after a Micah Young layup. Newark did not let the early swing from the Warriors phase them, they continued to run their sets and settle in defensively, taking a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.
That type of consistency showed in the second quarter as the Wildcats did not allow a point through the entire period. As time expired in the half, Tai Perkins got fouled on a half court heave and hit three free throws with zero seconds on the clock. Newark went into the locker room with a 31-16 lead over Westerville North.
After the break, Newark continued to pour it on, as seniors Steele Meister and Ethan Stare combined for 13 of the teams 17 total points in the quarter. Newark controlled the action throughout the entire quarter and headed into the final quarter with a 47-30 lead.
Senior Ethan Stare led the charge with 21-points for the Wildcats, an inspiring story, and his head coach appreciates the effort he put on the floor tonight, saying, “Stare missed a month this year, he was out for 10 games with a bad back and you can tell he’s starting to play like he did a year ago, kids that’s gone through a ton of injuries.”
Another senior leader, Steele Meister pitched in a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards on the night, prompting his coach to say he played “so unselfish, it’s hard to get in foul trouble and kept leading, talking to the kids.”
Despite a push from Westerville, who had chances to get the game within double-digits, Newark hit 19-of-32 at the free throw line in the final quarter to end the game with another district championship for the program.
“Not let #2 [Tai Perkins] and #1 [Micah Young] get really good looks, and really overload in gaps so they can’t penetrate,” Quackenbush said when speaking about his team’s gameplan for this win, “their team’s really skilled and if you let them get in the paint and have some vision, they just killed teams.”
They executed the plan well, holding Perkins to nine total points and Young to nine through three quarters before he finished with 26 for the game. Holding a team who averages close to 70 points to 30 through three quarters.
This win sets up a date with Olentangy Orange on Wednesday back at Ohio Dominican in a regional semi-final matchup.