Energetic Newark Wildcats girls basketball jumps on Logan from start

On Feb 16, 2023

NEWARK — The Newark girls basketball team did not miss many 3-pointers Wednesday, but when they did, senior Sophie Bidwell retrieved them.

Hot shooting and hustle plays were a combination that could not be stopped. The Wildcats hit 3s on their first four possessions, and Bidwell’s rebounding led to eight early second-chance points in a 66-24 victory against visiting No. 35 Logan (7-16) in a Division I first-round game at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.

“I am very energy-oriented. I live off energy, so I try to give the most energy I can to the young girls,” said Bidwell, who grabbed a team-high seven rebounds before leading the cheers from the bench with the game well in hand.

No. 15 Newark (13-10) removed any cause for concern, racing out to a 19-2 lead in the blink of an eye. The Wildcats visit No. 11 Hilliard Darby (17-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Senior Brie Gingras hit 3s on Newark’s first two possessions, and classmate Ally Carr matched her on the next two. Bidwell had an offensive rebound to set up one of Carr’s, scored her own putback and later made a lunging save to lead a third Carr 3 as the Wildcats’ five senior starters closed their home career in style.

“We were excited to play our last game at home as seniors and just try to bring the most energy we can to the home floor,” Bidwell said. “I don’t think it really hit me until senior night (last Friday) when I saw the underclassmen crying.”

Newark’s defense was just as tenacious as its offense. The Wildcats led the Chieftains, who had four sophomore starters and no seniors, 25-4 after one quarter and 37-9 at halftime.

It was an early night for the Newark starters, and the bench did not miss a beat in the second half. Sophomore Addie Hall with a pair and junior Riley Gingerich with one accounted for three of the Wildcats’ five 3s in the third quarter.

“It was nice to see our first six or seven kids set the tone early on with all of that tournament experience,” coach Jack Eifert said. “We talked to the younger kids at halftime about seeing it as an opportunity to show what you have. … They stayed aggressive, which I think is the toughest part as they get scared or tentative, and they stayed instinctual.”

Gingras’ 13 points led an incredible 13 Newark scorers, and Carr and senior Syncere Royster, who hit two of the Wildcats’ 11 3s, added nine apiece. Bidwell and Hall scored eight apiece, and senior Samira Mohammed added four, sending the bench in a frenzy when she made a deep jumper from the right wing.

“The younger girls are working hard in practice every single day, competing against us, competing against each other, so when they get a chance out there, they really are able to compete against other teams,” Carr said.

Sophomore Dani Mahaffey led Logan with 11 points. Makenzie Daubenmire added nine.

The level of competition will rise for Newark as it hits the road to face Darby, which features standout sophomore guard Gianna Lane, who played at Tree of Life last season. Since navigating a difficult schedule that featured four games against teams that finished in the Division I top 10, the Wildcats have won five consecutive games.