Thursday, March 16, 2000
NewCath's 'great season' ends
Winning streak snapped at 21 by Lou. Male
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
LEXINGTON — One player scoring more than half the points won't win many basketball games. Ninth Region champion Newport Central Catholic certainly didn't.
Junior guard Ronny Dawn poured in 22 points, but Seventh Region champion Louisville Male stopped NewCath's 21-game winning streak with a 61-41 victory Wednesday in the opening round of the boys state tournament at Rupp Arena.
Ronny's dad, NewCath coach Ron Dawn, preferred to remember the season for the streak, the 30-6 record and the state All “A” title in January.
“It was a great season,” NewCath coach Ron Dawn said. “It'll be tough to top.”
Male advances to meet 11th Region winner Lexington Catholic in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Friday. The Knights eliminated Muhlenberg North, 84-60.
Despite the loss, NewCath players said several statements were made.
Ronny Dawn emerged as a contender for next year's Mr. Basketball award.
“I wasn't nervous at all,” he said. “I didn't feel much pressure. I think I made a good showing.”
Junior center Cory Myers saw he needed to add some muscle.
“I'm planning to put on 25 pounds over the summer,” he said.
But for senior guard Tony Bacigalupo, it was the end of a career and the realization of a dream.
“If I had to end it someplace, Rupp was the place,” he said. “I wouldn't trade it for anything. This has been my goal since I was 4 years old.”
The Bulldogs had done the amazing before ever stepping foot onto the court, shocking defending state champion and USA Today No. 12 Louisville Ballard in the regional semifinals last week.
Wednesday's win eased the pain of a 65-57 loss to NewCath Dec. 27 in the Fifth Third Bank Kentucky Holiday Classic in Lexington. Improved defense, a bigger front line and a deeper bench were the reasons.
NewCath was at Rupp largely because its .438 percentage from 3-point range was second best in the state. The long bomb was mostly a dud Wednesday — the Thoroughbreds shot just 4-of-20 from 3-point range.
“They always had a hand up,” Ronny Dawn said. “With their running guys in and the court (being) bigger, that was huge. We were winded.”
Said Male coach Bryce Hibbard: “We've been holding people in the 50s and scoring in the 70s. I was proud of our defensive effort.”
Male had some offense, too. Forward Mike Bush, a 6-3 freshman scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and 6-3 junior forward Larry O'Bannon added 14 points.
The Bulldogs took a 10-3 lead four minutes into the game, but Ronny Dawn's five points helped NewCath cut Male's lead to 15-12 after one quarter.
NewCath stayed in the game in the second quarter because of Ronny Dawn's six points — part of an 11-3 run over the final 5:06 — and Male was ahead just 26-23 at halftime.
The Thoroughbreds came no closer. A 12-5 third quarter and 13-6 run to open the fourth made it 51-34 Male with 3:11 to go in the game, and the Bulldogs held Ronny Dawn to just nine points in the second half.
“I was trying to give (Dawn) room,” Bush said. “I also was trying to make him pull up. He can't hit all of them.”
If there's consolation for NewCath, it's that all starters but Bacigalupo return next year. For the Thoroughbreds to come back to Rupp, the team will need to develop a stronger inside presence.
Ronny Dawn thinks it's possible, but he said this season was one to remember.
“We've got four starters back, (but) 30-6 is going to be tough to top,” he said. “Even getting down here was a statement. Winning the region was a statement.”
LOUISVILLE MALE (61) — Eisert 2-2 2-2 6, Mathies 4-10 1-2 9, A. Burks 0-1 0-1 0, Powell 1-1 1-2 4, Young 1-2 0-0 2, Bridgeman 0-0 0-0 0, O'Bannon 5-10 2-2 14, Bush 8-10 1-1 17, Smallwood 0-0 0-0 0, J. Burks 3-9 0-1 6, Carter 1-2 1-2 3. Totals: 25-47 7-11 61.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC (41) — Pangallo 0-0 0-0 0, A. Dawn 0-0 0-0 0, Bonhaus 2-5 0-1 4, Giesler 0-0 0-0 0, Mayer 0-0 0-0 0, Hester 0-0 0-0 0, Bacigalupo 3-8 0-0 6, R. Dawn 6-19 7-11 22, Meyer 0-0 0-0 0, Wallenhorst 0-2 0-0 0, Heister 0-0 0-0 0, Little 0-0 0-0 0, Myers 3-8 0-0 6, Lynn 1-5 0-0 3, Kellinghaus 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-47 7-12 41.Ù
Louisville Male ....... 15 11 12 23--61
Newport Central Catholic ....... 12 11 5 13—41
3-point goals: LM 4-of-7 (Mathies 0-1, A. Burks 0-1, Powell 1-1, O'Bannon 2-3, Bush 1-1); NCC 4-of-20 (Bonhaus 0-3, Bacigalupo 0-3, R. Dawn 3-10, Wallenhorst 0-1, Lynn 1-3). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: LM 38 (O'Bannon 10); NCC 21 (Myers 6). Assists: LM 13 (O'Bannon 3); NCC 3 (Bonhaus 2). Turnovers: LM (); NCC 9 (R. Dawn 2, Myers 2). Total fouls: LM 11; NCC 14. Records: LM 27-7, NCC 30-6.
Sports Stories
Xavier 67, Marquette 63
Price takes seat and stays there
Notre Dame 75, Michigan 65
Men's NIT scores - schedule
Unsung Hotz has watched Xavier grow
Women's NCAA Schedule
UC: Less fanfare, more focus
Clinton calling Kenyon
Men's NCAA Schedule
UC women open NIT at Pitt
Women's NIT Scores - Schedule
Ruehl leads UC divers into NCAA
Reds boast outfield of plenty
Minors Deion's way to majors?
Bowden blasts Reds' bullpen
Reds Game Report
Bengals re-sign Purvis
