Newark boys basketball gets quality win before Pickerington Central

On Nov 29, 2022

NEWARK — Drew Oberholtzer smiled when asked about what is up next for the Newark boys basketball team.

The senior guard helped the Wildcats beat Perrysburg 55-48 in the championship game of the Rebounders Classic on Saturday in advance of Pickerington Central’s visit to Jimmy Allen Gymnasium on Friday. The Wildcats (2-0) were one of just two teams to beat their Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division foe Tigers, the reigning Division I state champions, who are led by Ohio State signee Devin Royal.

“It’s going to be a week,” Oberholtzer said. “Win a league and win a district is always the goal. We have to beat them at least once.”

First, Newark had to pass an early-season test against Perrysburg, a 2022 district finalist. The Wildcats held the Yellow Jackets (1-1) to just 17 points in the first half 24 hours after the Yellow Jackets had beaten Beavercreek 87-63.

Perrysburg tied Newark at 24 early in the third quarter. The Wildcats answered with a 13-2 run.

“We figured out who their key guys were, and everyone came together as a team to slow them down,” Oberholtzer said. “You do your own role, and you come out with the outcome you want.”

Newark held Perrysburg to 5-of-17 shooting from 3-point range, and the Wildcats only committed nine fouls, sending the Yellow Jackets to the foul line just four times. Matt Watkins and Avery Hunt scored 13 points apiece for Perrysburg.

Newark coach Jeff Quackenbush said the best defense often is an efficient offense. The Wildcats shot 54% from the field, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range.

“Our whole goal today was to have the ball most of the game — not turn it over. We had 12 turnovers. Some of them were going to the basket, and we don’t mind those,” Quackenbush said. “Our kids did a really good job defensively. We struggled at times to rebound, which is going to be an issue with this team all year, but held them only seven offensive rebounds.”

Junior Steele Meister scored inside to start the game-breaking third quarter run. Senior Grant Burkholder followed with seven of his game-high 16 points.

Meister totaled 15 points and Stare 13. Oberholtzer grabbed a team-high five rebounds, and sophomore Braylon Morris and freshman Ty Gilbert each hit a 3 for the Wildcats, who had their lead cut to 49-46 in the final minute, but they broke the Yellow Jackets’ pressure, converting with a layup for Meister.

“We were 16-of-20 from the free-throw line,” Quackenbush said. “Stare and Burk and really all of the guys were really good at driving the ball to the basket and playing in space, and the two young guys are both 1-for-1 from 3. It was definitely a group effort.”

Heights earns first win

Amadou Ceesay made burying five 3-pointers look easy in the first half, but Licking Heights (1-1) did not secure a victory in Saturday’s consolation game, 59-56 against Beavercreek (0-2), until the sophomore and his junior brother each made a pair of pressure-packed free throws during the final 20 seconds.

“It’s for my team. In clutch situations, you have to hit them, and I knew (Alieu) was going to hit his,” said Amadou Ceesay, who scored a team-high 19 points. “My teammates were just getting me the ball, and I was knocking down shots.”