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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net

It was a good news, bad news night for Arkansas City.

The good news: Valley Center lost to McPherson 75-49.

The bad news: Ark City couldn't take advantage of Valley Center's loss and clinch a first-round home playoff game.

When the Bulldogs were whistled for their seventh team foul of the second half with 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter last night, Newton had already started a string of consecutive makes from the foul line.

And the Railers remained perfect the rest of the way.

Newton made all 16 foul shots in the deciding quarter and Jordan Voelker scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Railers to a 73-61 win over the Bulldogs.

"That's big and they're a young team," Ark City coach Ben Proctor said. "Their guards did a good job there at the end.

"They just finished the game how you want to finish it."

What does this loss mean for Ark City?

With Ark City and Valley Center both in the same Class 5A playoff regional, it's simple.

If the Bulldogs defeat Valley Center in Thursday's regular season finale, they will play the Hornets at home in the first round of the playoffs. If Valley Center wins, the Hornets will host the Bulldogs next week.

Ark City fell to 8-11 overall after Tuesday's loss, while Valley Center dropped to 7-12 after its loss to McPherson.

If Valley Center defeats Ark City on Thursday, the teams would have identical records. But the Hornets would own the first tiebreaker since it would've defeated the Bulldogs in both meetings this season.

That's a scenario Ark City wants to avoid all together.

"I think that it makes a little bit more exciting and gives us something to play for on Thursday," Proctor said. "Even though we haven't finished real strong recently, we're still in a good position."

The Bulldogs jumped out of the gates on Tuesday to a grab a 12-4 lead just over three minutes into the game.

John Miller sandwiched a short jumper and three-pointer around a Voelker basket. Rohrs capped off the spurt with his first of six three-pointers on the night.

Rohrs led Ark City with 20 points, including 6 of 10 on three-pointers. He was one of four Bulldogs in double figures. Miller added 11 points, while Darrell Freeman added 12 and Jordan Fields 10.

But Ark City didn't receive any support from its bench, as Newton's reserves outscored Ark City's 27-0.

Newton adjusted to Ark City's quick pace, and left the Bulldogs with hardly any answers on the defensive end.

Jake Reinhardt then established Newton's presence down low. Reinhardt, who hit the game-winning basket as time expired in the Railers' 48-47 win over the Bulldogs on Jan. 8, recorded a putback and finished off the conventional three-point play.

Newton's taller line-up gave Ark City trouble down low, as the Railers finished with a 28-14 rebounding advantage.

Reinhardt nearly finished with a double-double, recording nine points and eight rebounds.

Rohrs hit a three-pointer from way behind the line late in the first to give Ark City a 17-11 lead. Proctor apparently has given the 5-foot-10 senior the green light all season when taking long jump shots.

"We figured all season that Ryan, if he's open, is going to hit every one of them," Proctor said. "He's probably the first player I've ever had that I've said, 'if you're open, shoot it.' "

But Newton started to find its mark not only behind the arc, but down low.

Tyler Mitchem gave Newton its first lead on the night, 22-19, with a three-pointer less than two minutes into the second quarter.

Newton closed the first half on a 9-2 run for a 38-33 lead at intermission. Both teams found their mark behind the arc in the first half combining for eight three-pointers. Ark City made five of its nine three-pointers in the first half. Newton buried three of its five three-pointers in the first half.

Voelker got to work in the second half.

He opened with a layup and then put down a left-hand dunk moments after Fields missed a dunk at the other end. Fields previously made an emphatic two-handed dunk in the second quarter.

But it became Voelker's show in the second half. He scored 13 of his points over the final two quarters.

"He's really good, big and strong," Proctor said of Voelker. "He's a tough match-up for us and probably everybody else."

Even with Voelker's efforts, Newton was not able to build more than a six-point lead in the third quarter.

Rohrs hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie the score at 48-48 with 1:15 remaining in the third.

Newton slowed the game down and took control in the fourth quarter at the foul line. Newton finished 18 of 20 at the free-throw line, compared to just 4 of 5 for Ark City.

"We wanted to play aggressive and we were maybe a little bit overaggressive," Proctor said. "I'm pleased with our kids' efforts, but we've just got to finish a game."

Newton 15 23 13 22 -- 73
Ark City 15 16 17 11 -- 61

Newton -- Voelker 21, Mitchem 14, Douvier 10, Reinhardt 9, LaCoste 8, Claassen 5, Kauffman 4, Wolfenberger 2. Totals 25 (5) 18-20 73.
Ark City -- Rohrs 20, Freeman 12, Miller 11, Fields 10, Rock 8. Totals 24 (9) 4-5 61.