Newark Catholic’s postseason run hits roadblock in district
Eli Morris caught fire and his Newark Catholic boys basketball teammates followed.
The Green Wave dug out of an early hole Friday, but it proved to be quicksand. No. 7 NC could never climb all the way out in a 60-46 loss to topseeded Northside Christian in a Division IV district final at Ohio Dominican as the Green Wave were denied a third consecutive title.
“Nobody really expected us to get this far, but we really put in the work during practice,” said Morris, who scored 25 points. “We really put a fight. We were hoping for three in a row, but we just fell short.”
Northside (22-3) plays Franklin Furnace Green at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ohio University in a regional semifinal.
“When the seeding came out and we noticed everyone ran to our side of the bracket. We took it personally they were coming after us,” Northside coach Ryan Vanderwarker said. “Northside Christian is not supposed to be here. We could play free. There was no pressure on us.”
Northside 6-foot-7 standout Landon Vanderwarker, ranked as one of the top sophomores in the state, had key block at the defensive end and scored 10 points in the third quarter, capping the flurry with a drive from the top of the key through the NC defense.
Vanderwarker added seven more points in the fourth quarter to total 25 for the game.
Patriot Prep 50, Northmor 38 (OT)
Patriot Prep pulled away from Northmor in overtime. The second-seeded Eagles (19-6) will face Jackson Center in a regional semifinal game at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kettering Fairmont.
“It means a lot because I tell the boys we’re the small school,” Patriot Prep coach Curt Caffey said. “When kids get to eighth grade, they see the greener pasture at (Pickerington) North or Reynoldsburg. I always tell them that if we put in the work and we win, scouts will find you. I also always tell them you can go to Pick North or Reynoldsburg and get in the line of legacy, but at Patriot Prep you can create the legacy.”
Prep’s Christian Stokes scored eight points in overtime, going 6 for 6 from the line to lead his team with 16 points. Northmor’s Grant Bentley scored 20 points,