Newark boys basketball sticks to principles in win vs Central Crossing

On Feb 4, 2023

NEWARK — On a night a state championship player was one of six inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, the Newark boys basketball team stuck to its hallmarks — efficient offense, smothering defense and most importantly camaraderie — to get win No. 1,690.

The Wildcats used a dominant third quarter to sprint away from visiting Central Crossing for a 57-31 victory in Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division play Friday at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium. The loudest cheer of the night, however, came long after the outcome had been decided when senior Tucker Anderson buried two free throws for his first points of the season.

“I am in here every day with them, working, and I just love being here,” said Anderson, who was in street clothes for much of the season. “They support me, and I support them night in, night out. I just love them, and they love me.”

Newark inducted Cody Dennison from the 2008 Wildcats’ state champion into the Hall of Fame along with the basketball program’s youth coordinator Billy Jefferson, volleyball star Kelsey (Gray) Higgins, star golfer Nick Shipley and track stars Anthony Johnson and Toby Hardwick.

The Wildcats (13-5, 6-2) led just 29-22 at halftime before holding the Comets (4-15, 2-6) scoreless for the first seven minutes of the third quarter, opening up a 44-26 lead and never looking back. A comfortable margin in the fourth quarter allowed Anderson, who just missed a 3-pointer with the bench ready to erupt before drawing a foul inside, and junior Kolin Watson to receive a few varsity minutes.

“It’s nice to see that happen,” Oberholtzer said. “It’s what it is about, cheering for your buddy. Everyone is pulling on the same rope.”

Senior Grant Burkholder and sophomore Braylon Morris combined for five first-quarter 3s for Newark, and they were needed because Luke White hit a pair for Central Crossing. The Wildcats led 20-12 after one quarter and 27-15 in the second quarter before another White 3 was a part of a 7-2 run to trim the lead at halftime.

Burkholder and Oberholtzer had early 3s in the third quarter, and the Comets had no such luck. The Wildcats forced two five-second calls and took a charge during the Comets’ scoring drought.

“We all knew we had to change something. Everyone just locked in and picked up their intensity,” Oberholtzer said. “Every day, we have been coming to practice and getting better, and that just leads to victories.”

Eight players eventually cracked the scoring column for Newark. Six of those Wildcats made at least one of the 12 3s as they shot identical 52% marks from the floor and 3-point range.

Burkholder totaled 16 points and three assists. junior Ethan Stare added 12 points and three assists, Morris nine points and junior Steele Meister seven and five rebounds.

“At this point in the year, you can switch up little things here and there, but tonight, we ran really good offense,” Newark coach Jeff Quackenbush said. “Our offense is getting better, and we are going to become harder to guard. That is how you win games in the tournament.”

White’s 15 points led Central Crossing, which was playing without standout sophomore Kent Hairston, a Licking Heights transfer. The Wildcats held the Comets to a pair of field goals in each of the final two quarters and forced 15 turnovers with Burkholder grabbing five steals and Oberholtzer three.

“We gave them a couple easy baskets early in the first half, which gave them a little confidence, but our kids were a little more in tune in the second half, helping each other out in gaps,” Quackenbush said. “We weren’t real focused to start the game. We talked about it at halftime, and give our kids credit, they corrected it.”

Newark was playing just its third game in 18 days. The Wildcats now get busy heading down the stretch.

Newark has a quick turnaround, visiting Westerville Central (10-8) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats have another back-to-back next week, visiting Groveport next Friday and Hilliard Bradley on Feb. 11 before hosting Lancaster on Feb. 17 to wrap up the regular season.