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Newton Rams advance with wins at house within the first spherical of the Class AAAAAA playoffs


COVINGTON, Ga. — Each of Newton’s basketball groups are Candy 16 sure after incomes wins within the first spherical of the Class AAAAAA playoffs on Wednesday at house.

The Girl Rams opened the day with a 59-45 win over the Paulding County Girl Patriots earlier than Newton’s boys group defeated the Hillgrove Hawks 75-60.

In each instances, a dominant fourth quarter paved the way in which for a Newton victory.

Girl Rams take down Girl Patriots regardless of Smith’s absence

Head coach Jawan Bailey and the Girl Rams took down a 20-win Paulding County squad on Wednesday, and did it with out one among their main scorers in London Smith.

With Smith out, Newton obtained a powerful sport from senior Desiree Davis, who’s 17 factors led all gamers within the contest.

“Desiree is a ballplayer,” Bailey mentioned. “We’re speaking a couple of Division I basketball participant earlier than her damage. She has lots of talent, lots of know-how concerning the sport. Her massive factor proper now’s simply getting again into the form of enjoying this sport at a excessive stage. When she is clicking, she is nearly as good as anybody on the ground.”

It was a detailed sport within the early phases as the 2 groups have been neck-and-neck via the opening eight minutes.

After main 10-7 on the finish of the primary body, the Girl Rams started to create separation within the second quarter and it started with back-to-back three-pointers from Davis.

One other Girl Ram that had a powerful second quarter was senior Alissa Sandifer, who knocked down a pair of three-pointers that included a four-point play on a foul.

The Newton Girl Rams’ bench celebrating after Alissa Sandifer’s four-point play within the win over Paulding County.
– picture by Garrett Pitts

By halftime, Newton led 28-17 as the entire Girl Rams’ factors within the body got here on three-pointers and free throws.

Within the second half, Paulding County started to make it shut once more.

Girl Patriots starters Alexus Wilson and Hope Johnson had significantly sturdy third quarters as the 2 mixed for 12 factors.

Nevertheless, the Girl Rams saved tempo with the assistance of Davis, who erupted for 10 factors of her personal the body.

Outdoors of Davis’ factors, a three-pointer from Zoey Jackson was the one different offensive output for Newton within the third quarter because the group appeared to nonetheless be looking for offensive rhythm throughout the board.

As soon as the sport entered the ultimate body, Bailey and the Girl Rams discovered what they have been in search of.

Newton led 39-32 at first of the fourth, and broke out for a 20-point quarter that ended with the Girl Rams profitable by 14 factors.

A number of Girl Rams had baskets within the last body because it proved to be the group’s finest offensive quarter of the day.

Following the win, Bailey spoke about what went proper for the group within the last eight minutes of play.

“I believe [we were] simply lastly settling down,” Bailey mentioned. “We had lots of up-and-down basketball within the first three quarters. We had some stretches the place we performed effectively however had some stretches the place we have been horrible. Within the fourth quarter we persistently performed effectively on each ends of the basketball which we must always do all evening. However, higher late than by no means.”

Mya Perry Newton Playoffs 2025
Newton sophomore Mya Perry(2) navigating via a pair of Paulding County gamers within the Girl Rams’ win over the Girl Patriots within the women Class AAAAAA playoffs.
– picture by Garrett Pitts

Davis’ 17 factors led the way in which for Newton within the win as Sandifer and Camille Recordsdata completed with 13 and 10 factors, respectively.

For the Girl Patriots, scoring was led by Johnson with 14 factors, Wilson and Lillie Harris ended with 13 factors apiece.

The win moved Newton to 21-5 on the season because the group now advances to the Candy 16 — the spherical they made it to final yr earlier than falling to North Paulding.

The Girl Rams will go on the highway to tackle the Norcross Girl Blue Devils(22-5) within the second spherical of the Class AAAAAA playoffs on Friday, Feb. 21.

Rams break it open late to defeat a scrappy Hillgrove group

From the opening tipoff, it was a hard-fought battle between Newton and Hillgrove within the first spherical of the boys Class AAAAAA playoffs.

The Hawks managed to play stout protection and pressure a number of turnovers off the Rams that resulted in factors on the opposite finish early.

Hillgrove’s Timothy Maulden had a powerful opening quarter that featured a pair of three-pointers.

A number of Rams acquired concerned within the scoring early, however Ted Neal was taken off the courtroom by head coach Barry Browner shortly after the primary quarter because the senior was battling foul hassle.

With Neal off, the Rams and Hawks continued a detailed battle all the way in which to halftime that ended with Newton main 30-26 on the break.

In Neal’s absence, Browner turned to senior Daniel Stephen, who obtained excessive reward from his head coach following the win.

“I gotta shout out Daniel Stephen,” Browner mentioned. “He has been damage all season, so coming into the senior yr we had excessive expectations for Daniel, however he was sort of banged up all season. He has been having actually good practices the previous few days and he was excited to get in and play as effectively.”

When the third quarter started, Neal re-entered the sport and it gave the impression to be the jolt that the Rams wanted.

Ted Neal Daniel Stephen Newton 2025
Newton’s Ted Neal(2) and Daniel Stephen(33) throughout the Rams’ win over Hillgrove.
– picture by Garrett Pitts

Though the Hawks managed to maintain it shut all through the third quarter regardless of a powerful exhibiting from each Neal and senior Zach Harden, the Rams finally broke it open with a giant second.

At the start of the ultimate quarter, Bryce Jackson was a number of steps behind the three-point line earlier than lofting a ball as much as Neal, who was sprinting to the basket earlier than leaping and slamming down an alley-oop.

Because the gymnasium erupted, the play gave the impression to be the turning level on Wednesday, as the remainder of the fourth quarter was all Newton.

Neal, Harden and Marcus Smith mixed for 21 of Newton’s 23 fourth-quarter factors.

After the sport, Browner spoke about the kind of vitality a participant like Neal can carry and why Wednesday’s sport was much more particular to the senior.

“That’s what Ted does,” Browner mentioned. “Individuals don’t understand that is Ted’s first playoff sport of his profession. His freshman yr, he was simply on the group. Sophomore yr [he] ended the season early, he was damage. Junior yr, final yr [he was hurt] after all. He was enthusiastic about this being his first alternative to play within the state playoff. He simply mentioned ‘Coach, I’m prepared.’ He was fired up. Anytime Ted has his vitality, he’s superior for us.”

Together with Neal and Stephen, Browner make clear the opposite sturdy performances from Wednesday.

“I imagine my guys mentioned Zach had 17-9-8, or one thing near that. Anytime Zach goes [it is great]. Jordan Inexperienced hit some massive photographs for us. Bryce Jackson stepped up and made some performs,” Browner mentioned. “Marcus Smith man, he’s our level guard, he is available in and does what he does.”

After an everyday season full of matchups in opposition to lots of the state’s premier groups, Browner credit that to the group’s skill to battle via the adversity of a detailed playoff sport. 

“I believe it’s our schedule,” Browner mentioned. “Now we have eight losses this yr. Three of them are to Grayson, one is to Wheeler, Cedar Grove, Holy Innocents, Whitefield and we dropped one to South Gwinnett. We performed shut video games all season so I believe the blokes know the best way to reply. They’ve been on this hearth earlier than. We performed lots of massive time video games, so I believe with the sport being shut we have been capable of simply push via slightly bit and simply discover our strategy to win.”

Regardless of lacking virtually a complete quarter, Neal ended his day with a team-leading 21 factors.

Harden’s 17 factors adopted as Smith and Inexperienced ended with 13 and 11 factors, respectively.

Evan Mott and Bryson Jatta led the way in which for Hillgrove with 19 and 12 factors, respectively.

The win moved Newton to 17-9 on the season and a spot within the Candy 16 — the around the group made it to in 2024 earlier than falling to Ace Bailey and McEachern.

Within the Candy 16, the Rams will go on the highway to tackle Peachtree Ridge(19-10) Saturday, Feb. 22. Newton and Peachtree Ridge performed early within the season with the Rams grabbing a slim 60-58 win.

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