Newark Catholic postseason run hits Northside Christian roadblock

On Mar 4, 2023

COLUMBUS — Eli Morris caught fire and his Newark Catholic boys basketball teammates followed.

The Green Wave dug out of an early hole Friday, but it proved to be quicksand. No. 7 NC could never climb all the way out in a 60-46 loss to top-seeded Northside Christian in a Division IV district final at Ohio Dominican as the Green Wave were denied a third consecutive title.

“Nobody really expected us to get this far, but we really put in the work during practice,” said Morris, the Green Wave’s standout senior, who racked up 25 points. “We really put a fight. We were hoping for three in a row, but we just fell short.”

Northside (22-3) plays Franklin Furnace Green at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ohio University in a regional semifinal. NC (7-18) fell just 46-44 to the Lions in late December and had hoped to continue its recent district dominance.

“When the seeding came out and we noticed everyone ran to our side of the bracket, we took it personally they were coming after us,” Northside coach Ryan Vanderwarker said. “Northside Christian is not supposed to be here. We could play free. There was no pressure on us.”

The first two of Morris’ six 3-pointers in a dazzling shooting display helped wake NC from a long scoring drought after a five-point first quarter. The Green Wave cut a 16-5 deficit to 20-15 before trailing 23-16 at halftime.

NC continued its run in the third quarter, getting to 32-29 and 34-31 before Northside hit the Green Wave with a 15-0 haymaker. The Green Wave did cut that 18-point deficit to 51-44 with 2:02 left on Morris’ final 3.

“That tells us about the guts and the heart of our team,” NC coach Travis Schwab said. “This season’s had a lot of peaks and valleys, but the constant has been they’ve never given up. … They just kept working. While the sting of the loss hurts, I am very proud of our team.”

Northside 6-foot-7 standout Landon Vanderwarker, ranked as one of the top sophomores in the state, halted NC’s momentum. He had key block at the defensive end and scored 10 points in the third quarter, capping the flurry with a drive from the top of the key through the NC defense.

Vanderwarker added seven more points in the fourth quarter to total 25 for the game. He scored twice in transition as the Lions used their length and quick feet led by Vanderwarker and 6-5 junior Carter Jury inside and senior Diamauntae Jackson and sophomore Delvontrel Jackson on the perimeter to deflect several NC passes.

“All year, they have just come back when we’ve had adversity,” Ryan Vanderwarker said. “They always respond well to coaching. That’s the most important thing about our team. They listen. That’s why we have success.”

Diamauntae Jackson scored 13 points for Northside. Sophomore Josh Cook, who accounted for all three of the Lions’ 3s, added 12.

The Green Wave had nine seniors, but Morris, whose 25 points followed his 26-point performance in the semifinal victory against Wellington, took a lead role, returning with experience from the last two runs to the regional.

“(Landon Vanderwarker) was on me, and I thought taking him away from the basket would help our team,” Morris said. “They drove and kicked to me when he was inside, and all my 3s were wide open, uncontested. I have to thank my team for the success from the 3-point line.”

Seniors Bobby Franks and Braylon Bates added eight points apiece for NC, which also graduates Joe Stanley, who ignited NC’s late-season surge, Anthony Dry, Caden Cecil, Ian Morehead, Bradyn Ehret and Kyle Langenbrunner, who missed the entire season with injury.

Morris is one of several NC players, who will be on the baseball diamond later this month as the Green Wave attempt to defend their regional championship this spring.

“Eli Morris is amazing,” Schwab said. “To have 25 points when we needed it, he was the guy that kept us close. I don’t remember the last time he’s come off the floor. He’s just a warrior.”

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