By Mark Schnabel
Newton Kansan

Railers to open Class 5A sub-state semifinal play next week

In the first meeting this season between the Newton High School boys’ basketball team and Andover Central, it was Newton with the hot hand shooting and the Jaguars struggling.

In the rematch Thursday in AV-CTL II play at Ravenscroft Gym, it was Central hitting the shots and Newton struggling resulting in an 82-62 Jaguar win.

Central held a 24-6 edge in 3-point shooting in the game.

“In our league, there are a lot of great teams and they showed why they are a great team,” Newton coach Paul Reichenberger said. “They hit a lot of shots. They consistently attacked our defense. Eighty-two points is they most we’ve given up. It’s tough to win games giving up 82 points.”

“We’ve got four guys, seniors, scoring in double figures,” Central coach Tyler Richardson said. “We had guys stepping up and making plays, working hard for each other. The first time we played these guys, our transition defense was non-existent. They shot the ball real well. At the end of the day, it’s hard to overcome. We were working hard for a home game, move up in seeding and second place in the league. We won the league the last three years in a row. We didn’t this year, but we got second.”

Jace Adler led Central with 19 points, followed by Jayden Brown with 18, Ethan Balke with 11 and Brody DeGarmo with 11.

Cam Schmidt led Newton with 20 points, followed by Maddox Williams with 14 and Cole Dillon with 11.

Schmidt goes over 1,000 points in his prep career.

Newton jumped out 7-5, but cold shooting and rebounds allowed Central to end the quarter and a 14-2 run.

Newton was able to stay in the game from the free throw line in the second quarter. Central ended the half on a 5-0 run capped by an Ethan Balke trey at the buzzer to lead 39-29.

Andover put the game away with a 10-0 run to start the third quarter. Jayden Brown opened the period with two treys. Maddox Archibald scored a three-point play with 2.3 seconds left in the period to put Central ahead 65-42.

Newton opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run. Central scored the next five.

Central ends the regular season 12-8, 9-3 in AV-CTL II play. Central moves into seventh in the Class 5A West Sub-State Pool and clinches a home semifinal game. The Jaguars could still move up two spaces, depending on Friday’s games.

“There are some things that could happen in the next 24 hours that could determine our fate,” Richardson said. “Our guys are prepared for anybody and anything. It’s win or go home right now.”

Newton drops to 11-9, 9-3 in league play. Newton will hold the ninth seed and could move up one spot if Topeka West loses to Lansing Friday and West’s point-differential tie breaker falls below Newton’s.

“We’re ready for what’s to come,” Reichenberger said. “We’ve been preparing all season for this. Whoever we play, we’re going to come hungry. Nobody wants to end the season on a loss. But man does it motivate a high schooler to go out there and not feel that feeling again.”

ANDOVER CENTRAL (12-8, 9-3 AV-CTL II) — Brown 1 (3) 7-8 2, 18; Neal 0 0-0 1, 0; Archibald 2 1-1 1, 5; Balke 1 (3) 0-0 0, 11; Stupka 0 2-2 2, 2; DeGarmo 4 (1) 0-0 4, 11; Inslee 0 2-2 0, 2; Jefferson 0 (1) 1-2 2, 4; Meschke 4 0-0 3, 8; Adler 8 3-4 3, 19; Ralston 1 0-0 0, 2; TOTALS 21 (8) 16-19 18, 82.

NEWTON (11-9, 9-3 AV-CTL II) — James 1 0-0 2, 2; Dillon 5 1-2 1, 11; Schmidt 6 (2) 2-3 4, 20; Buffalo 1 0-0 3, 2; Burnett 2 3-4 2, 7; Weeks 0 0-0 0, 0; Thurber 1 4-4 1, 6; Williams 3 8-9 5, 14; TOTALS 19 (2) 18-22 18, 62.

And.Ct.;19;20;26;17;—;82

Newton;9;20;13;20;—;62

Technical foul — AC: DeGarmo.