Monday, January 15, 2001
NewCath lacks momentum going into tourney
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
The Newport Central Catholic boys basketball team received its first wakeup call of the season last week, and it was like standing next to the city's World Peace Bell when it rings.
NewCath (12-3) dropped from first to second behind Covington Catholic in the Enquirer's Northern Kentucky coaches poll and probably will fall from third place in the state. The Thoroughbreds lost to Scott and Pleasure Ridge Park last week.
It's not the kind of momentum coach Ron Dawn wanted going into this week's Touchstone Energy Ninth Region All “A” tournament at Dayton, but he isn't worried.
“We didn't play our best, and (Scott and PRP are) two pretty good teams,” Dawn said. “We're not going to panic.”
NewCath is the defending state small-school and Ninth Region boys champion. The Thoroughbreds open against Calvary Christian at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Except for losses to Scott and PRP, things are going well. Senior guard and coach's son Ronny Dawn leads NewCath with 18.8 points a game, and senior forward Jeff Colson has 10.2.
St. Henry is the early favorite to meet NewCath in Saturday's finals. The Crusaders (7-6) are the only team in the bottom half of the bracket with a winning record.
The 10th Region tournament begins Tuesday at Bishop Brossart.
Silver Grove has a rematch with two-time defending regional champion Maysville St. Patrick at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Big Trains are a school best 14-0, and they handed the Saints a 54-52 loss on Dec.9.
“We play eight or nine guys,” Silver Grove coach Steve Hart said. “We've got a lot of depth.”
Williamstown and Walton-Verona are in the Eighth Region tournament that begins Wednesday at Owen County. Williamstown (3-8) takes on Spencer County at 6 p.m. Wednesday, followed by Walton-Verona (7-7) against Trimble County at 7:30 p.m.
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NewCath lacks momentum going into tourney