COVINGTON, Ga. — In matchups between extremely contested area foes, the Newton Rams and Archer Tigers cut up their video games Tuesday evening.
The women recreation got here right down to the wire, however a final minute effort from the Girl Tigers pushed them previous the surging Girl Rams 57-56.
Offense was at a premium within the boys recreation, however a dominant fourth quarter from the high-flying Rams gave Newton a 51-39 win at residence.
Rams break free late in defensive battle
The battle-tested Rams (10-4) confronted one other robust check Tuesday evening within the type of the 12-5 Tigers, who have been coming off a one-point loss on the street to Grayson lower than per week prior.
From the opening quarter on, protection was the story as Newton got here away with the 51-39 win.
After getting a win like that, head coach Barry Browner spoke concerning the crew’s means to adapt and play any fashion.
“We knew that Archer was robust — they’re a troublesome, laborious crew,” Browner mentioned. “They’re going to make you grind it out, they’re going to carry the ball — they’d success with Grayson doing that the opposite evening. They do a very good job over there. We will play any fashion. We will play up-tempo, we are able to play half-court.
“My coaches and my gamers, they do job of creating changes. Immediately, [it was] the primary day of college again and it was loads happening. They grinded it out. A win’s a win on this area. It is likely one of the hardest areas within the nation.”
Neither crew appeared to permit good shot alternatives early, which led to a 8-8 tie after the opening body.
As they’ve all 12 months, senior Ted Neal and Marcus Smith managed the ground for the Rams as Newton managed to attain nearly each level contained in the paint on Tuesday.
– picture by Garrett Pitts
The truth is, the Rams managed to win the sport regardless of not hitting a single three-pointer.
Exterior of Neal and Smith, the Rams acquired high quality video games from a number of gamers that got here off the bench, in line with Browner.
“I bought to shout out TJ Sands. TJ did job coming in,” Browner mentioned. “Over the break, his practices have change into actually good. I believe TJ has carried out a very good job for us. His power has been up, and he got here off the bench as a spark plug. Zach Harden is a spark plug as properly. We wanted power tonight and people guys gave it to us.”
The second quarter ended just like the primary as each groups entered their respective locker rooms at halftime deadlocked at a 21-21 tie.
Within the ultimate two frames, the Rams started to interrupt away.
It started within the third quarter with Neal, who scored half of the crew’s 12 factors within the body as Newton led 33-26 going into the fourth.
From there, Newton performed their greatest eight minutes of the day because it outscored Archer 18-13 within the span.
5 Rams scored within the ultimate quarter, however Smith’s eight factors set the tone and gave Newton all of the separation it wanted for the area win.
The ultimate minutes noticed a number of Rams take to the air for prime flying dunks that served as exclamation factors within the win.
– picture by Garrett Pitts
Neal and Smith led Newton in scoring with 16 and 14 factors, respectively. Harden adopted with 9 factors.
With the victory, Newton goes to 11-4 on the 12 months with an ideal 4-0 document in Area 4-AAAAAA play.
Subsequent up is the Battle of the Rams between Newton and Grayson on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Newton and Grayson have been seated because the No. 1 and No. 2 groups in area play for years, and Browner is prepared for one more chapter of the rivalry.
“You get to this a part of the season, we’ve been taking a look at one another,” Browner mentioned. “We now have been peeking across the nook taking a look at one another. They’ve been watching us and we’ve got been watching them. It’s going to be a heavyweight showdown. We all know what Grayson brings to the desk, we’ve got a number of respect for these guys — I coached there, I’ve been shut with these guys for some time.
“I believe it’s going to be enjoyable, however I believe our preparation is our preparation. It’ll be about us, it gained’t be about Grayson. If we do the issues we’re presupposed to do, then we will probably be okay.”
Grayson will enter Thursday’s recreation with a 14-1 document and the crew is ranked No. 1 in Georgia and No. 7 nationally, in line with MaxPreps.
Girl Tigers capitalize late to earn area win
The Girl Rams (12-1) and the Girl tigers (15-1) entered Tuesday’s recreation as two of the highest three groups in Area 4-AAAAAA in addition to two of the highest 20 groups in Georgia, in line with MaxPreps.
4 quarters later, the sport match the invoice.
Newton started the sport with what turned out to be their greatest quarter of the day.
Sophomore guards London Smith and Mya Perry managed the tempo early for Newton, nevertheless it was senior Tania Bailey that led the scoring.
– picture by Garrett Pitts
Bailey recorded eight of the Girl Rams’ 18 factors within the body as Newton grabbed a 18-9 benefit.
The second quarter noticed the sport start to even out because the Girl Tigers collected runs to trim the Girl Rams’ lead.
With seconds left within the half, a missed alternative for the Girl Rams got here again to chew them. Newton misplaced possession of the ball and Archer’s Saniya Sharper shot a half-court buzzer beater that caught nothing however the internet because it decreased the Girl Rams’ result in 4.
Popping out of the intermission, Newton confronted one other sluggish quarter. This allowed for Archer to shut in on the tie with the assistance of Braylen Whitehead, who scored eight of the Girl Tigers’ 15 factors within the body.
By the top of the quarter, Newton narrowly led Archer 40-39 with solely eight minutes left.
With the sport within the steadiness, the 2 area foes went blow-for-blow.
The fourth quarter is the place Perry started to take over the sport for Newton.
– picture by Garrett Pitts
After getting three fast scores on the within, Perry managed to get to the road three extra occasions earlier than the top of the sport. Nevertheless, Perry solely transformed on one in all her six pictures from the road.
With the sport nonetheless shut, Archer landed the shot that meant essentially the most.
Within the ultimate minute, the Girl Tigers bought downcourt and located Sharper. As soon as once more, Sharper nailed what was her third three-pointer of the day to present Archer a 57-56 lead with 12 seconds remaining.
Newton moved the ball round within the ultimate moments earlier than it will definitely landed within the palms of Smith, who’s shot missed off the rim for the Archer win.
A number of Rams bought concerned within the scoring, nevertheless it was Perry that led the way in which with 14 factors. Smith and Bailey completed with 11 factors apiece.
The shut loss is just the Girl Rams’ second defeat of the season as they transfer to 12-2 on the 12 months and 3-1 in Area 4-AAAAAA play.
One other check awaits Newton on Thursday, Jan. 9 once they tackle the defending state champion Grayson Rams (15-1) in a rematch of final 12 months’s area championship.
