Newark beats Lancaster from long range

NEWARK - Dominick Pressley had no indication he was going to receive an early call Friday.

The startled senior, however, was ready, and he certainly did not waste his opportunity. Pressley hit a 3-pointer and also added to defensive intensity that helped Newark shake a sluggish start and cruise past rival Lancaster 83-55 in the Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division finale at Jimmy Allen Gymnasium.

"I had no idea. I was really surprised, but I was excited," Pressley said. "I brought my energy. We needed ball pressure, getting in gaps and denying the ball."

Jacob Arter's 3-pointer gave Lancaster (7-15, 1-13) a 10-3 lead more than midway through the first quarter, and Newark (16-6, 10-4) then caught a spark off the bench from Pressley, classmate Evan Thomas and Jakim Murphy.

Pressley fed Kobe Long-Weber for a 3 to cut the deficit to 15-14 during the final minute of the first quarter. Pressley's 3 early in the second quarter then gave Newark its first lead at 19-17. Shea Crist, Newark's third and final senior, also entered the game later in the second quarter and contributed to a defensive effort that forced Lancaster into eight first-half turnovers.

"Dom and Shea were both a little surprised to be in there that early, and they both brought great energy," Newark coach Jeff Quackenbush said. "They both picked us up defensively when they came in. It's just one of things that happened."

Newark led 25-23 when the game started to get away from Lancaster. J.T. Shumate hit one of his five 3s, and B.J. Duling then grabbed a steal and raced for a dunk at the other end. Thomas followed with two baskets during the final minute to give the Wildcats a 36-25 halftime lead.

"Our boys came out and executed the game plan at the start and even sustained it into the second quarter," Lancaster coach Luke Truex said. "A couple turnovers right before the half allowed Newark to extend it out, and that was a turning point in the game because it took us out of our game plan in the second half."

Arter scored four quick points to start the third quarter, but Newark's offense had hit its stride. The Wildcats hit three 3s in the quarter while opening up a 23-point lead.

Rocky Jorgenson and Nash Wilson did yeoman's work battling Duling inside. The Wildcats, however, countered with a 12-of-21 shooting performance from 3-point range.

"Duling adds a huge dimension to Newark, and we tried to take him away as much as we could," Truex said. "I give our big guys credit. They battled inside and rebounded extremely well. They made it tough on him. ... I think he had to work for everything. He knows who he played against (Friday)."

Duling and Shumate had 15 points apiece. Long-Weber added 13 and Thomas 12. Hunter Dennison had seven points and seven assists.

"Everyone is going to guard B.J. a little differently," Quackenbush said. "They were really going to crowd him with their zone. I didn't think our kids were ready to shoot early in the game, but once we started making the extra pass, that is when we started knocking them in."

Arter led Lancaster with 12 points, and five Gales added six each. The Gales shot 51 percent from the floor, but they were hurt by 14 turnovers.

Newark's seniors re-entered the game during the final minutes. Crist hit a 3 and added a putback to put the icing on their senior night cake.

"We have a great friendship," Crist said. "We have been together for so long. It feels awesome to be together and make this tourney run to try to win a district title."

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8556

Twitter: @newarkurt

Stat Book

Lancaster 17-8-15-15 — 55

Newark 14-22-26-21 — 83

Lancaster 20-39 FG, 11-17 FT, 4-15 3pt. (England 1, Arter 1, Walker 1, Arbuckle 1), 26 Rebounds (Jorgenson 4), Assists 13 (Jorgenson 4), 14 Turnovers. Scoring: England 1 0-0 3, Walker 2 1-3 6, Arter 4 3-4 12, Arbuckle 2 0-0 5, Kitchen 3 0-0 6, Gootee 3 0-0 6, Dawson 2 1-2 5, Wilson 2 2-2 6, Jorgenson 2 2-4 6.

Newark 29-54 FG, 13-21 FT, 12-21 3pt. (Shumate 5, Long-Weber 3, Crist 1, Thomas 1, Dennison 1, Pressley 1), 17 Assists (Dennison 7), 8 Turnovers. Scoring: Carter 1 2-2 4, Crist 2 0-0 5, Duling 5 5-10 15, Murphy 1 2-4 4, Long-Weber 4 2-2 13, Thomas 5 1-2 12, Dennison 3 0-0 7, Jarrett 1 0-0 2, Pressley 2 1-1 6, Shumate 5 0-0 15.