Saturday, January 13, 2001
Meyers leads NCC to semifinal win
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
St. Henry's Stephanie Tabeling (right) struggles with NewCath's Maria Chiodi for a loose ball.
(Ernest Coleman photo)
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NEWPORT — When Newport Central Catholic senior center Amy Meyers plays her best basketball, coach Christie McDonald says the Thoroughbreds usually win. That was true Friday night.
— Meyers scored 18 points to lead NewCath to a 68-24 victory over St. Henry in the semifinals of the Touchstone Energy Ninth Region All “A” Classic at Newport.
“When (Meyers) shows up and plays her whole game, the whole team does,” McDonald said.
The Thoroughbreds will meet defending champion Newport — a 71-27 winner over Bellevue — for the regional title at 7:30p.m. today. The winner meets the Third Region champion at noon Jan.23 in the first round of the state All “A” tournament in Richmond.
Tonight is NewCath's first berth in the regional finals since 1998, and its third overall. The Thoroughbreds are seeking their first regional title since 1995.
Friday's win was NewCath's third straight and its ninth in its last 11 games.
Despite her stats, Meyers was critical of her play.
“I feel the first half was slow for me,” Meyers said. “I came out in the second half and played stronger. I had to push myself.”
Meyers wasn't the only contributor: Senior forward Erica Ziegler had 17 points and eight rebounds, part of a 45-14 NewCath edge on the boards. Senior forward Jenni Kessen had seven assists, and junior guard Julie Burks had five steals.
NewCath led 12-9 after the first quarter. Early in the second, NewCath freshman guard Nicole Chiodi stole a St.Henry pass and found Meyers. Meyers then found Ziegler alone underneath the basket for a layup with 6:31 left remaining.
The result: a 19-9 NewCath lead, part of a 9-0 Thoroughbreds run.
St.Henry (2-8) never recovered. The Crusaders led just once, at 4-3 two minutes into the game. They did not score for a 4:39 stretch of the first quarter and went another 3:16 before reaching double figures in scoring.
NEWPORT CC (68) — Fogelman 1 1 3, M. Chiodi 1 0 2, J. Ziegler 3 0 6, Maudlin 3 0 6, Kessen 1 0 2, Burks 3 09 6, Prigge 2 0 4, N. Chiodi 3 0 6, Meyers 7 4 18, E. Ziegler 7 1 15. Totals: 31 6 68.
ST. HENRY (24) — Portwood 1 0 2, King 3 0 7, Johnson 1 0 2, Suedkamp 1 0 2, Lindemann 1 0 2, Muck 1-1 3, Tabeling 3 0 6. Totals: 11 1 24.
Newport CC ....... 12 19 18 19—68
St. Henry ....... 9 6 2 7—24
3-pointers: NCC-none; SH-King. Records: NCC 11-4, SH 2-8.
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Meyers leads NCC to semifinal win
