Saturday, December 18, 1999NewCath 75, Bishop Brossart 57
Thoroughbreds show they have more than Dawn
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati EnquirerNEWPORT — The popular chant in the Newport Central Catholic cheering section this winter is, “We've got Ronny.” The news is they have more than Ronny Dawn.
Dawn, Northern Kentucky's preseason Player of the Year, was just the third-leading scorer Friday in NewCath's 75-57 beating of Bishop Brossart. That's a scenario the Thoroughbreds will gladly reprise.
“Teams concentrate on shutting down Ronny,” said NewCath coach Ron Dawn, Ronny's father. “That just leaves things open for other guys.”
Friday, the “other guys” were Seth Lynn and Cory Myers, two juniors up from the junior varsity this winter. Lynn made 9-of-11 shots for 25 points and Myers added 17 points, career highs for both.
NewCath (3-1), ranked No.3 in the preseason Enquirer coaches poll, is a team long on potential. Four juniors start. Things should only get better.
“We're still getting a feel for each other,” Lynn said. “Toward the end (of the season), we should be good.”
For now, NewCath is erratic. Tuesday, it wasted an 11-point third-quarter lead in a home loss to No.9 Simon Kenton. Friday, playing a 6-0 team, the Thoroughbreds rolled.
Theirs is not boring basketball. Dawn and Lynn entered the week as Northern Kentucky's top two 3-point shooters: Dawn at 60 percent (9 of 15), Lynn at 58.3 percent (7 of 12).
Friday, Lynn made 7-of-9 3-pointers; Dawn, 2-of-4.
“We knew (Lynn) could shoot,” Brossart coach Willie Schlarman said. “But who don't you guard? We made the decision not to let Ronny shoot much, and Lynn hurt us.”
NewCath came out swarming, getting off seven shots before Brossart attempted its first. NewCath scored the first six points, and held a 14-6 lead when Lynn got hot.
He would score NewCath's next 20 points, including six 3-pointers. After Brossart finally found him, the 6-foot-5 Myers broke free inside, scoring 13 points after halftime.
“After awhile, we felt we had to go inside,” Myers said. “It's great knowing that if I get double-teamed, I can kick it out for someone to hit a three.”
Lynn has been a boon, increasing his production every game: 11 points against Bellevue, 12 vs. Boone County, 17 against Simon Kenton and 25 Friday.
He's averaging 16.3 points and has 18 3-pointers. His scoring average leads the team; Dawn is at 13.8 ppg.
“Seth worked his butt off over the summer,” coach Dawn said. “He's doing what we need: hitting open shots.”
The Mustangs are unranked, but their upset Tuesday of No.1 Covington Catholic should earn them a ranking next week. Junior guard Chris Ryan led Brossart with 27 points Friday.
“We're 6-1,” Schlarman said. “We're happy.”
Brossart is in the 10th Region. NewCath can now return to its pursuit of its first Ninth Region title since 1984.
“It'll be a wide-open race this year,” coach Dawn said.
BISHOP BROSSART (57) — Ryan 10 5 27, J.Seiter 5 0 12, Enzweiler 3 3 9, Lloyd 1 0 3, Ruth 1 0 2, Clark 1 0 2, Luschek 1 0 2. Totals: 22 8 57.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC (75) — Lynn 9 0 25, Myers 8 1 17, R.Dawn 5 0 12, Bonhaus 1 4 6, Mayer 2 0 4, Hester 1 0 3, Bacigalupo 1 0 2, Little 1 0 2, A.Dawn 0 2 2, Kellinghaus 1 0 2. Totals: 29 7 75.
Bishop Brossart ....... 8 7 15 27—57
Newport Central Catholic ....... 17 14 17 27—75
3-point field goals: NCC—Lynn 7, R.Dawn 2, Hester; BB—Ryan 2, J.Seiter 2, Lloyd. Records: NCC 3-1, BB 6-1.
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