Saturday, January 20, 2001
Myers takes turn leading NewCath
6-6 center feeds off assists, scores 22
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
NewCath's Corey Myers took over the scoring load from Ronny Dawn.
(Ernest Coleman photos)
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DAYTON — Newport Central Catholic senior center Corey Myers should treat his teammates to a big breakfast today.
Thanks largely to the assists his teammates provided Friday, the 6-foot-6 Myers scored 22 points in the Thoroughbreds' 85-47 victory over Ludlow in the semifinals of the Touchstone Energy Boys Ninth Region All “A” Classic at Dayton.
NewCath (15-3), ranked second in the Enquirer's Northern Kentucky coaches poll and fourth in the state, meets St.Henry for the title at 7:30p.m. today. The Crusaders eliminated Holy Cross 65-60 behind senior forward Nick Love's 19 points.
Myers knew who deserved the credit for his points — his teammates.
“I was hoping they'd look for me inside,” Myers said.
They did all night. NewCath had 19 assists for the game. Senior Seth Lynn had five, and seniors Vince Bonhaus, Jeff Colson and Ronny Dawn added three apiece.
“Most of my passes were in to Corey,” Lynn said. “We had Ronny on the other side. Me and Corey have played together, like, forever. He knows I can throw the passes, and he'll catch them.”
Ludlow's Adam Martin tries to keep a ball in play as NCC's Seth Lynn looks on.
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Friday also was the latest example of Myers' maturation as a player. His average of 14 points a game is five higher than last season.
“He plays with a lot more confidence this year,” NewCath coach Ron Dawn said. “He knows we're going to get it to him more.”
Myers credits the improvement to summer camps.
“I worked on everything,” Myers said. “Inside moves, shooting the ball, everything.”
Myers' teammates fed him from the opening 90 seconds. Bonhaus and Lynn each notched an assist in a 12-3 run to open the game.
By this time, Ronny Dawn — he of the 54-point explosion Wednesday vs. Beechwood — heated up. He finished the quarter with eight points and scored 15 for the game.
Ludlow's Alex Wheatley works on recovering a loose ball.
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But Myers was just getting started: a layup off Lynn's assist with 3:20 left in the first; a jumper with 1:36 to go; a layup off Dawn's assist with 36 seconds remaining.
The numbers: 12 points and a 27-10 NewCath lead.
“Coach told me before the game they didn't have anybody to match up with me,” Myers said.
And Ludlow (9-6) was effectively finished. The Panthers never came closer than 14 the rest of the night.
Assists from Lynn and Bonhaus gave Myers four more points in the second quarter.
By the end of the third quarter, NewCath had a 63-36 lead.
Junior forward Adam Martin led Ludlow with 15 points on five 3-pointers.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC (85) — A. Dawn 1 2 4, Bonhaus 3 0 8, Colson 4 2 11, R. Dawn 6 1 15, Buten 2 0 4, Heister 3 2 10, Myers 10 2 22, Lynn 3 0 9, Kellinghaus 1 0 2. Totals: 33 9 85.
LUDLOW (47) — Wheatley 2 0 4, Henry 2 0 4, Schlickman 2 1 5, Taylor 4 2 10, Kennedy 1 0 2, Beard 2 3 7, Martin 5 0 15. Totals: 17 8 47.
Newport CC ....... 27 17 19 22 - 85
Ludlow ....... 10 15 11 11 - 47
Three-point goals: NCC-Lynn 3, Heister 2, R. Dawn 2, Bonhaus 2, Colson; L-Martin 5. Records: NCC 15-3, H 9-6.
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Myers takes turn leading NewCath