The Newton Tigers had a good holiday break as they won four games as they get ready for Division 4-2A play.
The Tigers swept two games in the Bay Springs Christmas Tournament, beating Collins 58-40 and Heidelberg 44-37. The Tigers also swept two games in their annual tournament, beating 1A power Leake County 48-44 and rival Newton County 55-36.
The Tigers are now 13-5 on the season and will host Lake on Tuesday night to open division play. The Tigers will then travel to Philadelphia on Friday for a key 4-2A matchup with the 11-4 Tornadoes.
“It’s somebody different every night,” Newton coach Darrin Gray said. “These kids really play well together and they really like each other. They love each other and love to play together. If you see one of them, you are going to see five or six of them.
“I think we are headed in the right direction. We’ve got some little things that we have to clean up going into district. If we can clean up those things, I think we can be pretty good.”
Newton boys 48, Leake County 44
The Tigers built double-digit lead but had to hold off a late charge by 1A power Leake County to take a four-point win over the Gators in the nightcap of the Newton Invitational on Friday night.
After falling behind 7-6 in the first, the Tigers scored nine straight points to end the first period with a 15-7 lead.
Leake tied the game at 20-20 with 2:21 left in the half but a slam and three-pointer by Dazmeon Page helped the Tigers end the half on a 9-0 run as they led 20-20 at the half.
Newton outscored Leake 9-7 in the third and led 38-27 going into the fourth.
A rebound dunk by Page gave Newton a 43-31 lead with 6:21 left in the game. That’s when Leake turned up the pressure and reeled off 10 straight points and pulled within two at 43-41 with 4:37 left in the game.
But Newton hung tight as Yorel Phillips scored four points and the Tigers took a four point win.
Page and Phillips led the Tigers with 11 points apiece while Jamarian Pace and Deshaun Watts each had six points.
Newton boys 58, Collins 40
The Tigers used a big third period to take an 18-point win over Collins on Saturday at the Bay Springs Tournament.
Newton led 14-8 at the end of the first and held a 22-19 lead at the half. The Tigers pulled away in the third, outscoring Collins 22-5 in the third to take a 44-24 lead into the fourth.
Jamarian Pace led Newton with 13 points while Dazmeon Page had 12 points. Tyler Bedford had 11 points while Jay Roberts added nine points.
Newton boys 44, Heidelberg 37
The Tigers used a stingy defense to hold off Heidelberg at the Bay Springs Tournament.
Newton led 10-7 at the end of the first and 20-19 at the half. The Tigers gradually pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Oilers 12-10 in the third and 12-8 in the fourth to take the win.
Yorel Phillips led Newton with 12 points while Jamarian Pace had nine points and Jayden Parker chipped in seven points.
