Late night for Knights
Newson-Cole scores a seasonhigh 27 points as Lincoln-Way Central tops Sandburg in 2OT for first regional title since 2008
During the second half of the season, Lincoln-Way Central preached the importance of winning time — the moment of the game when the Knights need somebody to throw the team on their back and bring home a victory.
In Friday night’s double-overtime game against Sandburg, Azyah Newson-Cole stepped up in winning time.
“I know I’m one of the captains on this team,” Newson-Cole said. “I want the ball. I know if I’ve got to take the game over and get it done, then that’s what time it is.”
Newson-Cole scored a season-high 27 points in a 55-47 victory over the Eagles in the Class 4A Sandburg Regional championship game. Her efforts helped Lincoln-Way Central secure its first regional title since 2008.
“I just felt like if I didn’t go out there and do what I was supposed to do, we were going to lose,” Newson-Cole said. “One thing I hate is losing.”
Preventing that fate was no easy feat for Lincoln-Way Central (22-8). With a home crowd behind them, the Eagles (20-11) quickly jumped out to a 7-2 lead.
Meanwhile, Newson-Cole endured a handful of missed shots and turnovers. Although she led the team with 10 points at halftime, she initially struggled to make an impact.
Sandburg carried all the momentum into the fourth, having held the Knights to just two points in the third quarter. That’s when Newson-Cole took over. The 5-foot-7 guard scored seven points within the first two minutes of the fourth.
After Sandburg star Erin O’Connor found herself with an open look under the basket, Newson-Cole quickly cut in to disrupt the shot.
Whenever the Knights needed a key play, Newson-Cole was there to deliver one.
“Azyah understood winning time tonight,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Dave Campanile said. “We put it on her back. We just wanted to go feed our best player and have her do her thing.
“It was great for her to be able to be in a moment that big. She relishes that. She really is a kid that can thrive in those situations.”
Lincoln-Way Central held a one-point lead with a second remaining in regulation, but senior guard Danielle Antoine hit a free throw for the Eagles to send the game to overtime.
While Newson-Cole scored all four of the Knights’ points in the first OT, Sandburg forced a tie again.
But stopping Lincoln-Way Central’s phenom for a second OT proved to be a task too tall for the Eagles.
Newson-Cole scored three quick points to give the Knights a 48-45 advantage. Senior guard Keira Hunt then hit a pair of free throws before forcing a turnover that helped Lincoln-Way Central ice the game.
O’Connor led Sandburg with 11 points, while fellow senior forward Charlotte Trunk added 10.
Even though the night didn’t go as planned, Sandburg coach Nick Fotopoulos knew his team left everything on the court.
“Those girls played so hard,” he said. “I’m so proud of them.
“They can’t take anything away from the effort and the drive of those girls to get there. We just didn’t have enough at the end to pull it out.”
Now, the Knights get a couple days to catch their breath before taking on the host Raiders at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Bolingbrook Sectional semifinals.
When they get there, they know Newson-Cole will be ready to make a play when it’s needed the most.
“My goal coming here was to make sure my name was on that wall and make sure I leave a mark,” Newson-Cole said. “I’m on top of the world right now. I’m just glad we got the job done.
“Winning time. That’s what time it is.”