Web posted
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Newton pulls away from Ark City girls
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Photo by David Wolman
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
NEWTON -- Nursing a one-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, Newton went to a full-court press to try to create a little separation. The move paid off, as the Railers went on a 17-2 run to close out the game and send the Bulldogs to a 52-36 loss on Tuesday evening, their fourth straight defeat.
"We just had two or three sloppy things happen and that was the end," Ark City coach Bill Stinson said.
It was a tale of two halves for the Bulldogs (1-5, 0-2 AV-CTL Division II).
In the first half, Natalie Stinson put on a show. Stinson and company pushed the issue with stifling ball pressure, forcing the Railers into committing 12 turnovers, many as a result of Ark City cutting the passing lanes for steals.
After Karlye Sturd tied the game at 2 with a layup off a steal, Stinson began asserting herself.
Stinson scored seven of her game-high 18 points within a span of 3 1/2 minutes, from the late in the first quarter to the start of the second.
She drove the lane after an inbounds pass and converted a layup to tie the game at 9-9 at the end of one quarter. Stinson then recorded a steal on the opening possession of the second quarter and converted a layup at the other end. Just in the first half alone, she recorded 12 points and four steals.
"She just played really strong and played like a senior," Bill Stinson said. "We need to get that from her every night."
When Natalie Stinson wasn't scoring, she was dishing the ball off to open teammates -- in particular, Val White. Stinson delivered a bounce pass around two Newton defenders to White, who converted a layup late in the second quarter. White finished with four points, both layups off heads-up passes from Stinson.
Ark City led for a majority of the first half, and converted 12 Newton turnovers into 12 points.
"We just talked after (Friday's loss to) McPherson to not take, but to give it," Stinson said. "We were really emphasizing coming and playing as hard as you can. And that's what we did."
Stinson capped off her strong first half with a pair of free throws and a 19-13 Ark City lead at halftime.
But Newton (4-4, 3-1) made the necessary adjustments and used double teams and a box-and-1 to limit Stinson to six points in the second half.
With the Railers holding Stinson in check, they were able to make a push late in the third quarter. Janelle Briar sparked Newton's 17-7 run to end the quarter. She gave the Railers their first lead since a 9-7 lead with 1:17 remaining on the first quarter on a pair of free throws.
Briar hit a three-pointer from the right corner for a 28-23 lead. She scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, including nine in the third quarter.
"They've got a pretty good size advantage on us," Bill Stinson. "Next time, we just can't let her go."
Newton's height advantage paid dividends, as it outrebounded Ark City 35-23 on the night.
Warren twice brought the Bulldogs to within a single possession early in the fourth quarter on two three-pointers. The second trey cut Newton's lead to 35-34 with 5:53 remaining. She finished with 11 points and two rebounds.
But Newton's full-court press and depth propelled it from that point. Bill Stinson knows that he needs others to step up and take the burden off Warren and Natalie Stinson, if the Bulldogs are to break out of their five-game slump.
"I think their depth is something that makes a difference," coach Stinson said. "We just showed some inexperience and they didn't."
Newton sank six of eight free throws in the last 3:18 to seal the game. The Railers went 18 of 26 at the foul line, while Ark City went 5 of 13.
Ark City 9 10 9 8 -- 36
Newton 9 4 20 19 -- 52
Ark City: Stinson 18, Warren 11, White 4, Sturd 2, Benton 1. Totals 14 (3) 5-13 36.
Newton: Briar 14, Yoder 10, Lehman 7, Alexander 7, Robb 5, Gronau 4, Minkevich 3, Saylor 2. Totals 17 (0) 18-26 52.
Above: Arkansas City senior Natalie Stinson, left, applies pressure on Newton's Reanne Yoder on Tuesday evening.
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