Saturday, January 29, 2000
Newport falls in All 'A' quarterfinal
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
RICHMOND, Ky. — Newport girls basketball coach Aric Russell saw what happened, but wasn't sure why it did.
The numbers from Friday's All “A” Classic state basketball quarterfinal provided the proof: a 66-50 Todd County Central victory behind 20 points from sophomore forward Brandy Choate.
“I can't explain it,” Russell said. “I thought we were playing tough, then they were getting all the offensive rebounds.”
Russell referred to a five-minute stretch late in the third quarter and the first 2:11 of the fourth — a 21-0 Todd Central run, led by six points apiece from Choate and freshman guard Cassie Shemwell.
Not even a 16-8 Newport streak over the next five minutes could help. Russell could only wish for another 27 minutes like them.
“If the girls had attacked like they did the fourth quarter, it would've been a different game,” he said.
Choate wasn't Todd Central's only contributor. Senior guard Ambika Smith added 12 points, and senior forward Rebekah Judy had 11 points and 16 rebounds.
After Newport tied the score 11-11 after one quarter on freshman forward Tiffani Atkins' basket with 21 seconds left, Todd Central took over. A 7-0 run four minutes into the second quarter gave the Lady Rebels an 18-11 lead.
Newport, meanwhile, suffered from its most familiar failing: free-throw shooting. The Lady Wildcats finished the first half 0-for-4 and 3-of-10 for the game.
Senior guard Molly White led Newport with 15 points, and junior forward Ashley Mills added 14. Todd Central faces 1999 runner-up Somerset in the semifinals at 9 a.m. today.
TODD COUNTY CENTRAL (66) — Smith 3 6 12, B.Choate 4 12 20, Dye 1 2 4, Judy 5 1 11, Hutchison 3 4 13, Shemwell 1 4 6. Totals: 17 29 66.
NEWPORT (50) — Beatsch 4 0 8, Wagner 2 0 4, Mills 7 0 14, White 5 2 15, S.Atkins 3 1 7, T.Atkins 1 0 2. Totals: 22 3 50.
Todd County Central ....... 11 11 20 24—66
Newport ....... 11 8 11 20—50
3-point field goals: TCC—Hutchison 3; N—
White 3. Records: TCC 9-8, N 15-6.
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