01/27/2023
BY JACK BULLOCK
OLNEY - The Newton Eagles had never won the Little Illini Conference boy's basketball tournament heading into the championship game on Friday night.

When Coach Troy Bierman and his team wake up on Saturday morning, they can look in the mirror and see the champions.

The Eagles gutted out a 40-37 victory over the host Richland County Tigers in front of a large crowd at Ron Herrin Gymnasium.

Newton improved to 16-7 on the season, edging three opponents this week by a combined 10 points to capture the title.

Six-two junior Caden Nichols came up big on Friday night for Newton to lead the Eagles with 14 points while 6-2 junior teammate Parker Wolf added nine points, including some key free throws and a huge 3-pointer in the fourth quarter for the victory.

Junior Jacob Weber added seven points in the low scoring contest for the Eagles.

“This is the biggest win (for us since I've been here) because it was for the conference title,” said Coach Bierman. “We had not won it yet for Newton in the history of being in the LIC (2013-14 they became a member) and the kids knew that. It was an amazing win for us.”

For Coach Rob Flanagan and his Tigers the opportunities were there for the championship on Friday night.

But they couldn't get enough shots to fall, especially late in the game as they had to settle for second place in the 52nd annual tournament.

Although six different players scored points for the Tigers on Friday night, none of them reached double-figures as the club saw its mark slip to 16-5 on the season.

Six-eight freshman Casey Thomann scored nine points in the contest for Richland County while junior guard Ian Winkler netted eight.

Two other Tigers; senior guard Dawson Brown and sophomore Rex Hallam added seven points each.

Six-four senior Zechariah Wease scored all four of his points on a pair of baskets in the fourth quarter.

Richland County, the tournament top-seed and favorite to add their second straight tournament championship in the event, couldn't put the Eagles away.

The Tigers led by as many as 11 points in the first half but Newton managed to rally take its first lead in the third quarter.

After leading 9-7 at the end of the first quarter Richland County scored nine consecutive points, triggered by a conventional three-point play on a driving one-handed dunk by Hallam.

Brown scored on a shot in close as did Winkler, with both scores coming off of dribble penetration into the lane.

A nice spin move in the paint by Thomann resulted in a bank shot and an 18-7 lead with 3:59 left in the second quarter.

Newton got things going the rest of the half as they trailed by just three at the break.

Nichols nailed down a 3-pointer from the right corner and then converted a three-point play by tipping in his own missed shot while being fouled.

Late scores by junior Kye Bergbower and junior Gus Bierman cut the Tigers' lead to just 20-17 at halftime.

“We've had some lulls defensively this season but I believe we have corrected that. I told the guys at halftime if we give ourselves a chance with under a minute left in the fourth quarter I like our chances to succeed,” said Coach Bierman. “We've done that all year, we made plays and executed. We just made one more play than they (Richland County) did. We got one more stop than they did.”

The Eagles cut into the lead and evened the score with Weber scoring four of his points in the frame while Bergbower, Wolf and Nichols each getting points.

Weber grabbed a rebound and his drive to the basket for a score tied the game at 28-28 with 1:36 left in the third.

After Thomann hit 1-of-2 free throws (five points in the quarter) Newton got a rebound put-back by senior Mark Jansen that just beat the buzzer for a 30-29 lead for the Eagles heading into the final countdown.

The Tigers looked like they were going to get another championship as they took back the lead with scores by Wease, who scored twice in the lane while Brown once again got to the rim through the Newton defense.

The second Wease score made it 37-35 with 2:01 remaining.

The bad news for the hosts was that they wouldn't score again.

In perhaps the biggest shot and play of the night gave the Eagles the lead.

Wolf found himself open on the left wing from behind the arc.

His 3-pointer found the mark, putting Newton back on top 38-37.

The junior nailed down two additional free throws to make it 40-37 with :53.3 left.

Coach Flanagan's club had multiple chances in the final seconds to tie the game but they missed all five of its 3-point tries.

The final shot from Winkler missed and Weber grabbed the rebound as the buzzer sounded and the celebration began for Coach Bierman and his bunch.

The Tigers were just 1-of-10 from the 3-point line and 16-of-42 overall while also being out-rebounded 27-25.

Newton didn't shoot much better but they did enough for the win.

The Eagles ended up 15-of-46, 2-of-10 from the arc and survived eight turnovers compared to 11 Tiger miscues.

“We matched their intensity and we matched their physicality. It was great to execute and get that 'W' tonight,” said Coach Bierman.

Coach Randy Bishop and his club now sit 19-5 on the season after the victory Friday night.

Six-three senior Bryant Jenkins came up with 15 points for the Indians

Sophomore Maddox Pargin scored nine points for Lawrenceville and junior Landon Sanders scored eight.

Sophomore Parker Hardiman and junior Landon Sanders each added seven key points.

Lawrenceville rallied to tie the game at 38-38 at the end of the third quarter with Jenkins canning a key 3-pointer and a pair of Pargin free throws.

A 10-2 run to opening the fourth quarter allowed the Indians to hang on to the win.

Hardiman and Sanders bookend a pair of 3-pointers around scores by Jenkins and Pargin for a 48-40 lead.

Casey-Westfield and Coach Tom Brannan saw the mark slip to 14-6 with the tough defeat.

The Warriors were led by 6-3 junior Connor Sullivan with 14 and 6-1 senior Jackson Parcel with 13.

Purcell hit three 3-pointers in the game, with one coming in the fourth quarter.

Sullivan added a conventional three-point play with just under a minute to play but they couldn't get back the lead.

The Indians left the door slightly ajar by missing consecutive one-and-one chances late but Casey-Westfield couldn't get any of its final shots to fall.

Lawrenceville ended up 19-of-40 from the floor, 5-of-13 from the 3-point line.

Casey-Westfield won the rebounding battle 32-15, including 11 offensive boards.

But 19 turnovers and 16-of-45 from the field (4-of-14 from the arc) was a bit too much to overcome.

As with the other two games on the final day, defenses were in charge but Coach Mack Thompson's Robinson team made just enough plays and stops to get the hardware.

Six-six senior Aidan Parker came up big with 18 points and 11 rebounds for Robinson

He netted nine of his points in the first quarter as the Maroons jumped out to a 17-10 first quarter lead.

Six-five senior guard Cooper Loll added nine points and 5-9 junior Judson Pinkston pitched in eight.

Owen Schmidt, a 6-3 junior, added a pair of key 3-pointers in the second half for six points in the triumph.

Robinson ended up 18-of-43 overall, 4-of-11 from the 3-point arc and held a 34-28 rebounding spread.

Although they finished with 15 turnovers, they survived a late Mount Carmel rally for the win.

Coach Tyler Buss saw his club slip to 14-9 despite 14-points from 6-1 senior Gavin Smith and nine points from 6-0 senior Gage Kennard.

Senior Blayne Sisson and junior Andrew Gillihan added eight points each for the Aces.

Six-five junior Connor Shelby scored seven points for Mount Carmel.

Smith and Sisson each scored six of their points in the second quarter as the Aces closed the gap to just 26-24 at halftime.

Mount Carmel never led but they managed to forge two tie scores in the fourth quarter with the final one coming at 39-all after a Smith bucket at 5:35 left.

But Schmidt canned his second long range bomb and a steal and fast break lay in by Pinkston gave the Maroons back the momentum.
“He's a good shooter and he actually gets to the basket pretty well and Parker is averaging a double-double,” said Coach Thompson. “Pinkston handles the ball well and hit some big free throws for us and he did a really good job on Kennard.”

The Aces had multiple chances in the final quarter but they were just 3-of-11 from the field, 0-of-5 from the 3-point line which included a miss in the final seconds as the horn sounded on the Maroons victory.

Robinson played without 6-6 junior Noah Gilmore who is out with a possible concussion.

“This is a big win against Mount Carmel, any win against them is always a good win because they are such a tough ballclub,” said Coach Thompson. “Being 2-0 against Mount Carmel is good right before regional seeding.”