SPORTS

Shumate rewards Newark girls during historic run

Dave Weidig
Reporter
  • An OCC-Ohio championship, first-ever regional title and heartbreaking loss in the state semifinals
  • Cat Camp has gone from drawing 20 to 25 players, to between 100 and 150.

NEWARK – After Newark wins, of which there were many, coach J.R. Shumate served up treats for his Wildcats.

"Milkshakes, frozen lemonades, only if we won," Ohio Division I Co-Player of the Year Kym Royster said. "That (cooler) lid would come off, and we knew they were coming. He thought we deserved it."

Twenty seven times, as a matter of fact. It was a soft side of the intense Shumate many don't often see, but the players did during a historic season that took them to their first state tournament.

Shumate was able to reward the players for their hard work, and they in turn treated him to a 27-2 season that included a 24-game winning streak. For the second consecutive season, and third time in the last five years, he is The Advocate's Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

Since coming over from the Newark boys program, Shumate has steadily continued the girls' ascension. From 9-13 seasons, to the district semifinals, to 2014's district runner-up finish and second-place finish in the powerful Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division.

Now, an OCC-Ohio championship, first regional title and heartbreaking loss in the state semifinals to the eventual state champion. Newark became just the sixth team in 42 years to get 20 wins, and was undefeated at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.

"When we started, we tried to be realistic," Shumate said. "Realistic, but still challenging. The No. 1 priority was getting girls who were hard-working, who wanted to win, who were responsible and made good decisions."

Shumate was able to impart the wisdom he had learned as a 1,000-point scorer at Ohio Wesleyan, as an assistant on a Division II boys state runner-up team at Philo and as an assistant on Newark's 2008 state championship boys team.

"We had a number of girls who came in and improved their skills," Shumate said. "You combine that with the intangibles, and it has led to success."

The last two years, Newark has benefited from the new Ohio High School Athletic Association rule that allows individual workouts with four players at a time.

"Now, they know how to work out individually, and that's where the real improvement comes," Shumate said.

Royster said Shumate's passion for the game carries over to the team.

"He's really pushed me hard to reach my potential," she said. "He knows when to push me to provide more than I'm showing.

She said Shumate really is different off the court.

"He keeps us on our toes, outside of basketball," Royster said. "He's more calm, and there's more laughs. He treats us like a second family."

Despite the graduation of Royster and classmates Ali Cartnal and Taylor Henson, Newark girls basketball is here to stay thanks to Shumate. Cat Camp has gone from drawing 20 to 25 players, to between 100 and 150. The youth and middle school programs are enjoying undefeated or once-beaten seasons. Freshman Adrian Crockwell displayed dazzling varsity skills, and hard-nosed sophomore Emily Paul played more like an upperclassmen.

After eight seasons, Shumate has put Newark girls basketball on the state map, and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

dweidig@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8557

Twitter: @noz75

Past Winners

2014 J.R. Shumate, Newark

2013 Carl Dufford, Johnstown

2012 Rob Smith, Newark Catholic

2011 J.R. Shumate, Newark