Monday Sports Wrap – December 5, 2011

12/5/2011

R. Hibbert

[FULL STORY]

This week marks the return of the Newman Invitational Tournament. Now in its 48th year, the NIT brings 16 basketball teams to the School to battle it out for top honors December 6-10. The girls varsity soccer team won 2nd place in the 8th Annual Winter Classic this week, and the middle school girls will participate in the Sacred Heart Tournament this weekend. Read on for the latest in winter sports.

Basketball

“Last week in the All-State/Sugar Bowl CYO basketball Tournament, the ’11-’12 Newman boys varsity basketball team proved that they are and should be a team to be reckoned with on all levels of play and against all classifications of schools – locally, regionally, and state-wide.

On Wednesday, Newman was assigned to the Jesuit bracket of the CYO and faced host 5A Jesuit High School in the 1st round of play. Newman was relentless and efficient in its overall effort, particularly on team defense, as they beat the Blue Jays to meet yet another 5A school, the undefeated Rummel Raiders, in the 2nd round last Thursday. Against Rummel, Newman played almost flawless team ball in all phases (the Greenies committed only 6 turnovers the entire game) and annihilated Rummel by a 63-39 score to advance to the semifinals (final four of the CYO).

On Friday night in the CYO semis, Newman traveled to Holy Cross to play a tough and seasoned Tiger squad in what was predictably a loud and packed arena. Newman led the entire game until very late in the 4th quarter. Regulation play ended in a tie, and Holy Cross eventually eliminated the Greenies by a single point in overtime. Sam Kohnke was selected to the CYO All-Tournament team. St. Augustine eventually beat Holy Cross in the finals to claim their 2nd consecutive CYO title.

This week, the Newman Invitational Tournament (NIT) kicks off play in the Palaestra and the Tuohy gyms on Newman’s campus. The Greenies (4-3) open up the 1st round of NIT play against cross-town rival Country Day this Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the Palaestra in what should be an intense, exciting, and well-attended affair. Come by Newman this week and bring some fans to cheer our Greenies to victory in OUR HOUSE. We need a large “6th-man contingent” to make some noise to spur our boys on!

The JV NIT basketball tourney was held @ Newman this past weekend and Newman’s JV lost in a close one to St. Aug in the finals. I have no other info but I suggest the G and W Club get someone to report about the JV tournament.

The middle school girls basketball teams played St. Martin’s on Wednesday, November 30. Though they put up a fight, both teams lost to St Martin’s (Green 28-24, White 20-14).

The 6th grade girls basketball team played John Curtis but lost 10-6. Coach Cohen assesses: “This was the girls first week of games. We have a very young team with most of the girls having not played basketball at all...or if they have... not in the past 3 years. The girls are really making progress. The team is made up of mostly 7th graders with two 8th graders and five lower-schoolers helping out as well. We are looking forward to many more games and a lot more improvement.”

Soccer

The girls varsity soccer team spent the weekend on the pitch, competing in the 8th Annual Winter Classic. From Thursday to Sunday, the team looked unstoppable, picking off team after team including E.D. White (8-0), Episcopal Baton Rouge (2-0), and Cabrini (5-0). In the Semifinals, the team defeated Runnels 3-0. Facing off against Episcopal again in the finals, the girls lost in a hard-fought 1-2 game.

The boys varsity team headed off to St. Martin’s on November 30. The teams seemed evenly matched, resulting in a tie with a final score of 4-4.

The middle school girls teams had a great week as well. Both Green and White teams beat Country Day on November 28 (5-0; 5-0), and then repeated their performance against McGehee (Green, 7-0, White 5-0).

The middle school boys also had a strong week. Newman A Team had three games this week, beating Riverside 6-0, Haynes 5-1, before falling to Christian Brothers with a score of 0-1. Christopher Lane scored total of six goals in three games. Sam Moses also scored three goals and three assists.

The Newman B team played Christian Brothers and won 3-1. Clayton Schell, Sam Moses and David Freeman were the goal scorers.

The Week Ahead

Monday, December 5

Soccer

4:00 p.m. Girls Middle School Green Team vs. Sacred Heart (away)

4:00 p.m. Boys Middle School B Team vs. Trist (away)

6:30 p.m. Boys Junior Varsity vs. Holy Cross (home)

Tuesday, December 6

Basketball

4:00 p.m. Boys 6th Grade vs. Trinity (away)

5:00 p.m. Boys Middle School 7th Grade Team vs. Trinity (away)

Soccer