Newton Outlasts Jenkins 46-38

The Newton Rams defeated Jenkins-Savannah 46-38 in a second-round matchup Wednesday night. The game started out great for Jenkins as it grabbed a 5-0 lead at the outset behind an early three-point play by Anthony Lanier. The 6-8 center finished the night with 10 points.

Newton would finally get on the board behind Willie Smith, who was huge for the Rams in the contest. The Rams' offense would get on track finding holes in the 2-3 zone of Warriors, and eventually took control of the game ending the first quarter with a 14-9 lead. It was more of the same in the second as the Rams added to their lead with baskets by Stephen Croone and Smith, and built the lead to nine with 5:15 left in the second quarter. Jenkins did not have much of an answer for Newton’s offense later in the quarter as the lead would continue to grow but the Warriors would cut into the lead with free throws by Aaron Fisher. Leading scorer Derrick Henry for Newton, who was held in check in the first half with seven, pushed the lead to 15 at halftime with a basket and two free throws. Newton went to the break with a 28-13 lead.

Jenkins showed some fight at the start of the third quarter behind baskets by Reger Baker but just as hot for Newton was Henry, who became more aggressive. A free throw by Henry pushed the lead to 16 with 4:08 left in the third quarter. The team from Savannah never quit as they began to press the Rams and slice into the lead. Turnovers by Newton led to easy baskets by Elisha Anderson and a three pointer by Kevin Tolbert made the score 38-27 with 2:46 left in the third quarter. A free throw by Tolbert brought Jenkins within striking distance going into the final quarter. The Rams offense went cold in the forth quarter while Jenkins continued to remain patient, going back in the paint to Lanier, cutting Newton’s lead to seven. A basket by Fisher would cut the lead further down to five, 39-34 with 3:06 remaining in the contest but that is a close as it would get as Newton got a much needed basket by Smith pushing the lead back to seven. Both teams would exchange baskets and despite a valiant effort Jenkins fell short as Newton advanced to the Elite 8. Leading scorers for Newton were Derrick Henry with 16 and Willie Smith with 15. For the Warriors, the leading scorers were Kevin Tolbert with 11 and Anthony Lanier with 10.