Saturday, February 20, 1999
Newport's seniors finish 21-win season
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — The buzzer had sounded, hands had been shaken, and the gym stood half-empty. But Newport's players huddled once more at midcourt, chanting and hugging and whooping it up.
The Titanic rematch with Highlands could wait. Friday night, celebrating an 82-61 beating of Scott, was a scene to savor.
“All of us were on a 5-20 team (two years ago),” senior guard Brian Kuntz said. “Now to be 21-6 is a complete turnaround. It's been so much fun.”
Newport closed its regular season Friday in style. Eleven Wildcats scored, including all eight seniors. On Senior Night, playing their last game on their home court, the seniors accounted for 75 points.
With its first 20-win season in six years, Newport has buried the pain of the 1994-95-to-1996-97 seasons, when it totaled just 15 victories.
“I found the team goals from two years ago,” second-year coach Scott Draud said. “It was interesting to compare.
“It was one of those situations where when you're not winning, the attitude's bad, so the goals were like, "Let's all get along.' No one could even think anything like, "Let's win the region.' This group has come a long way.”
Newport is ranked fourth in the Enquirer's coaches poll — it received a first-place vote this week — and owns victories over No.1 Highlands and No.3 Holmes. But its 55-35 beating of Highlands Jan. 26 was tainted because Highlands senior forward Jared Lorenzen (14.9 ppg) missed the game with an illness.
When it meets Highlands (19-6) in a 36th District opener Tuesday at Newport Central Catholic, it will get the Bluebirds' best shot. The two-time defending Ninth Region champs are riding a 10-game winning streak.
“We and Highlands both got a tough draw,” Draud said. “We know they're a special team with special players. But we think they're playing the most athletic team in the region, a team with great depth and tremendous quickness. This team feels it can win.”
Friday was important for Newport's psyche. It had six players fall ill with the flu this week — including leading scorer and rebounder Pete Greene, who missed nearly the whole week of school — and was upset Wednesday by Dixie Heights.
Everyone was back Friday. Though Greene played only 20 minutes, he totaled nine points and nine rebounds, and Newport shot .596.
“I still need to get my wind,” Greene said. “I was about 75 percent. But we came out strong.”
Senior teammate Johnny Bonner took up the slack, dominating inside with 30 points and nine rebounds. Kuntz made all four of his three-point attempts and scored 16.
“We wanted to make sure we go up the hill (to NewCath) with some big momentum,” Bonner said.
Said Kuntz: “That will be the biggest game of our lives.”
Scott (8-18) was still in the game, down 42-35 midway through the third quarter. Then the Wildcats used a 21-4 run in the next five minutes to put the game away.
Newport outrebounded Scott 43-29 and held Scott's leading scorer, Anthony Matracia (21.0 ppg), to two points.
“We knew they had something to prove,” Scott coach Jeff Trame said. “They were inspired tonight.”
Scott plays host to Dixie in a 34th District semifinal Tuesday.
“Dixie feels like us, that we can beat anybody on a given night,” Trame said.
SCOTT (61) — Thompson 7 1 17, Kuehne 6 2 14, Morris 3 2 9, Barwell 2 1 5, Richardson 2 0 5, Stevenson 1 1 4, Sticklen 1 1 3, Matracia 1 0 2, Lye 1 0 2. Totals: 24 8 61.
NEWPORT (82) — Bonner 14 2 30, Kuntz 5 2 16, Greene 3 3 9, Winn 2 2 6, White 1 2 5, Cole 2 0 4, Marshall 1 0 3, Muench 1 1 3, Lewis 1 0 2, Basey 1 0 2, Johnson 0 2 2. Totals: 31 14 82.
Scott ....... 10 13 14 24—61
Newport ....... 17 17 19 29—82
Three-point field goals: S—Thompson 2, Morris, Stevenson, Richardson; N—Kuntz 4, Marshall, White. Records: Newport 21-6, Scott 8-18.
Sports Stories
Butler gets another chance
XU women post 20th win PHILADELPHIA - Jen Phillips notched her fifth double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, in Xavier's easy 72-39 win at Temple Friday.
XU pitching could fuel run to A-10 title
Huggins reprimanded by C-USA
UC-Louisville goes from humdrum to humdinger
UC women claim share of C-USA title
Speedster commits to UC Speedy tailback will pick UC
Bell on fast track to major leagues
Reds' bid for Meares falling short
REDS NOTEBOOK
Jaguars safety targeted
Coslet: No grudge with Pickens
