Newport’s boys basketball team almost blew an 18-point lead Wednesday.
Thanks to Yamil Rondon’s 17 points and six assists, however, the defending Ninth Region champion Wildcats hung on for a 73-69 win at Highlands.
Rondon gave his team a B-minus.
“We started off the first quarter bad, came out the second quarter hot,” Rondon said. “Third quarter, so-so. We need to just finish games.”
Newport is now 3-0 in the 36th District and 8-1 over its last nine games. Wildcats coach Rod Snapp said his team has above-average talent.
“The discipline’s got to be consistent,” Snapp said.
The Wildcats out-rebounded the Bluebirds, 40-33. Griffin Starks had 16 to go with 14 rebounds, while James Turner added 12 points, 13 boards, eight assists and six blocks.
DaShawn Anderson and Amontae Lowe added 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Wednesday was Lowe’s first game back after missing most of a loss to Beechwood and wins over Bellevue and Holy Cross with an ankle injury.
“I really was just trying to get back in a groove,” Lowe said.
Snapp said Wednesday was the first time Anderson, Rondon, Amontae Lowe, Turner and Starks were together. Senior Adonaje Lowe is out with an injury.
“We’ve got to put them together more in practice and get a rhythm and get a routine and a consistency on how we want to do things and how we want to close a game,” Snapp said.
Wednesday was also the first game in the toughest part of Highlands’ season. After Thursday’s home game against Bellevue, the Bluebirds: visit Cooper on Friday, take on Campbell County on Sunday at Northern Kentucky University, host Conner on Feb. 7, meet Mason County on Feb. 8 at Bracken County, and finish at Lloyd Memorial on Feb. 11.
There were at least five reasons for the Bluebirds (13-6, 2-1) to be happy Wednesday – 20 points each from Tayden Lorenzen and Cale Harris, a 20-2 bench scoring advantage, and Nathan Rickard and Vinny Listerman serving four and five assists, respectively.
“Anytime your team continues to fight, dig and compete, you’re always proud of that,” Highlands coach Kevin Listerman said. “And this group has done that all year long.”
With the 6-8 Turner and 6-7 Starks, Newport (12-7) had the height advantage. They staked the Wildcats to an 11-7 lead a little more than four minutes into the game.
The rest of the quarter, Lorenzen, Harris and Listerman took over. In order: Lorenzen’s top-of-the-key 3, Harris’ bucket over Newport’s Irvan Nichols, and Listerman’s tip-in over Turner and a 5-footer with four seconds left that left Starks shaking his head. The result: Highlands, 18-13 after one quarter.
Turner said the Wildcats weren’t angry about what had happened.
“We was disappointed, though,” Turner said. “We could do better, pick it up a little bit.”
Rondon, Anderson and Lowe apparently seen had seen enough. Rondon and Anderson each knocked down two free throws, Lowe hit a three and Anderson converted Starks’ steal.
Newport was just getting started. Especially Rondon – 10 points in a little more than three minutes.
Turner’s two dunks and a free throw gave the Wildcats a 39-25 halftime lead, and Starks’ bucket made it 44-27.
Was that a safe lead? Hardly.
After Lowe’s six points – including a mid-air course change for a reverse layup – and Starks’ two put the Wildcats up, 59-41, two minutes into the fourth quarter, Harris’ 3 with 18 seconds to go capped a 28-14 Bluebird rally.
“We can play better than that,” Turner said. “It was a sloppy win for sure.”
WILDCATS 73, BLUEBIRDS 69
NEWPORT 13 26 12 22 – 73
HIGHLANDS 18 7 14 30 – 69
Newport (73) — Anderson 15, Turner 12, Starks 14, Rondon 17, Lowe 13, Nichols 2. 3-Pt. FG: 7 (Rondon 3, Starks 2, Anderson, Lowe). FT: 10-22. Rebounds: 40 (Starks 16, Turner 13). Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 11.
Highlands (69) — Bouldin 8, Rickard 7, Listerman 8, Ebert 6, Harris 20, Lorenzen 20. 3-Pt. FG: 8 (Bouldin 2, Ebert 2, Harris 2, Lorenzen 2). FT: 3-7. Rebounds: 33 (Listerman 9, Rickard 5, Lorenzen 5). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None. Turnovers: 6.
Records: Newport 12-7 (3-0 in 36th District) Highlands 13-6 (2-1).