But he isn't quite done with his other prep sport just yet.

The soon-to-be Rebel played Wednesday night “with a cause” and purpose hammering home 32-points in the paint, including the game-winning shot with :04 remaining as his team won a thriller of a sectional semifinal, 47-45 over conference rival Pinckneyille in front of a packed house at Duster Thomas Gymnasium.

Newman scored from all over the lane and hit 8-of-13 free throws as the Hornets improved to 21-10 on the season while advancing to the sectional title game on Friday night.

The four-year starter for Coach Brad Weathers' team, Newman has been a big part of the four-year run of fortune for this program.

And when it got down to crunch time, the game-plan was a simple one; get the ball to Newman.

He took a lob pass from teammate Jaris Dahlman on the right side of the lane and his shot attempt went off the glass and through the net to give his team a two-point lead.

After two timeouts by the Panthers, and an advancement to halfcourt for a final play, Pinckneyville didn't get a shot off in time as their season came to a bitter end at 25-7,

“He earned every one of those 32-points tonight,” said Coach Weathers. “I thought we were motivated, maybe more so since we had lost to them here before. I am proud of our kids, they really stepped up to the challenge tonight. There were three or four opportunities were we could have gone South but we didn't. We got down eight at one point but we got a couple of turnovers and got some big baskets.”

Coach Bob Waggoner's team committed 14-turnovers, with 10 of them coming in the second half as they failed to hold on to a lead they held at halftime.

The Panthers had drilled Nashville in the previous meeting, 74-49 back on February 13.

However the Hornets were much better defensively on this night, keeping the game close for Newman to close out.

The Hornets will now face Breese Central on Friday, a 38-34 winner over Alton Marquette on Tuesday night.

For Pinckneyville, they were led by Clayton Houghland, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, with 20-points as he and senior Sam Simpson (10-points) closed out their prep cage careers.

In the last meeting, Pinckneyville's Grant Jausel had a career-high 29-points but he was held in check, as were the rest of the Panthers on this night.

Jausel had just four-points while Hayden Carter came off the bench to score five for the hosts.

Newman's help on this night came from Brady Bultman, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, who added 10-points for the Hornets.

Although they struggled from the 3-point arc (1-of-6) Nashville got the ball to Newman inside enough as the big man hit 12-of-18.

“We were going to try and get him (Newman) the ball or get to the foul line because they (Pinckneyville) were in the double-bonus,” said Coach Weathers about the final play. “I thought Heggemeier and Dalman guarded extremely hard all night long. All of our perimeter players guarded extremely well.”

As a team, Nashville finished 17-of-33 overall and turned the ball over just seven times.
Pinckneyville wasn't so good offensively as they not only turned it over but they were only 5-of-16 from the arc themselves, 18-of-37 overall.

A team that normally shoots a lot of free throws, the Panthers couldn't get to the line enough (4-of-7) in the defeat.

“We just didn't execute very well. I thought the key was the tempo and the pace of the game. We pushed the ball and got a lead in the second quarter but we didn't finish possessions. We had some silly turnovers and we didn't get good shots,” said Coach Waggoner. “We didn't put together enough good possessions in a row to beat them.”

Front the beginning it was apparent that this was going to be a good night for Newman, as he got going with 10 first quarter points.

Proving to be nearly unstoppable, Newman hit five field goals as the first quarter closed even at 14-all.

Houghland has been a top scorer for Pinckneyville this season, and hit three baskets in a row for the Panthers, with back-to-back 3-pointers and a back-door cut to the basket on a pass by Simpson to give his squad a 22-17 lead with 4:47 before the half.

It was the Hornets worst stretch of the contest as they committed five turnovers.

Simpson added a pair of scores late in the half and a drive in the lane by Houghland resulted in a left handed lay in and a 28-24 lead at intermission.

Coach Waggoner's team were on the verge of putting this game away to begin the second half just as they had done in the last contest between the two SIRR Mississippi Division teams.

Houghland continued his hot streak with two scores in succession on a fast break lay in and another drive down the middle of the lane that forced Coach Weathers to call a time out at 32-24 at the 5:59 mark.

“They played great against us the last time and made us pay. I was concerned when they got up eight that they would spread us out and hold it,” added Coach Weathers.

But the Panthers were unable to put the game away like the did in the last meeting.

Bultman hit a pair of free throws and Newman continued his scoring in the lane, scoring three-straight baskets.

The third one turned into a conventional three-point play while forcing Simpson into his third personal foul.

Another bucket by Bultman evened the game at 35-each.

A rebound bucket by Carter with :04 left set the stage for an exciting fourth quarter.

An 8-2 run by Nashville, with six-points coming from the foul line, gave the Hornets their largest advantage.

A lay in on a fast break by Dalman on a steal from Bultman, followed by five free throws by Newman and one made charity from Bultman gave the Hornets a 43-39 edge.

Pinckneyville made a run to get the game even one final time.

A 3-pointer from Carter, who ended up with five-points on the night, 1-of-2 free throws by Moll who was intentionally fouled by Ryan Brink and a driving lay in moments later by Houghland tied the score at 45-apiece to set up the final moments.

Newman had a good look at the basket for the go-ahead score but he missed in the lane and then fouled Simpson with with :47.1 left.

Simpson could have given the Panthers the lead back but his missed the front end of the 1-and-1.

Newman grabbed the rebound and once in the front court the Hornets used a time out to set up the final play.

Working the ball to the right side, Dalman found Newman on the right blocks and his shot sent the Hornets into the sectional title tilt.

Despite Newman grabbing five-rebounds, the Hornets were out-rebounded 18-11.

Nashville will face Breese Central, a team they lost to 51-48 back on January 21 at the Nashville Invitational Tournament.

“That was the game plan for us tonight. He was going to get what he got and we were going to shutdown their 3's. We thought if they ran it through him the score would be in the 40's and we would have a chance to win,” said Coach Waggoner. “I'm super proud of our kids. Probably the most improved team from beginning to the end of any I ever coached. They are a great group of young men.”

Nashville (47) – Dalman 2 0 0-0 4, Newman 12 0 8-13 32, Heggemeier 0 0 1-2 1, Bultman 2 1 3-4 10, Brink 0 0 0-0 0, Kemp 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-16, 3FG-1, FT-12-19, PF-12.
Pinckneyville (45) – Houghland 6 2 2-2 20, Simpson 5 0 0-1 10, Moll 1 0 1-2 3, Brand 0 1 0-0 3, G. Jausel 0 1 1-2 4, C. Jausel 0 0 0-0 0, Luke 0 0 0-0 0, Carter 1 1 0-0 5.
2FG-13, 3FG-5, FT-4-7, PF-14.
Fouled Out – None.
Technical Fouls – None.