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(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Cooper Clayton attempts a shot at the net over Perrin defenders during the game Friday, Jan. 24. The Bobcats will travel Tuesday, Jan. 28 to Bryson and will make another trip Friday, Jan. 31 when they go up against Garner. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Jacob Omundi faces a stiff defense from Perrin while attempting a shot at the net Friday, Jan. 24. After the Bobcats fell to Perrin, the team is now moving into the second half of its district schedule. -
(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Jayden Hemby of the Bobcats jumps to make a shot at the free throw line Friday, Jan. 24. Hemby led in scoring for the team with 13 points during the game against Perrin.
The Newcastle Bobcats went up against one of the top 1A teams in the state and despite their drive, came up short against the Perrin Pirates.
Things looked up for Newcastle in the beginning of the game, with the first quarter showing promise for the Bobcats. The quarter was owned by Jayden Hemby, who scored nine of the 12 points for the team.
“Jayden was a big part of the game plan. We knew the middle of the floor would be open against Perrin, and we needed to have a scoring threat there to knock down mid-range shots, as well as be patient when handling or passing the ball,” head coach James King said. “I felt like Jayden played his role well. He was able to knock down some shots early and help control the tempo of the game.”
After a big 3-point shot from Keyton Newland capped the first quarter for the two teams with a score of 12-19, the Bobcats were not trailing far behind Perrin.
It was in the second quarter where everything changed.
Throughout the game the Bobcats were struggling with keeping possession and breaking the defense of the Pirates.
“Friday was a tough one. It’s never easy going into a game against the #2 ranked team in the state, but we felt good about the game plan,” King said. “Our goal was to slow the pace of the game down on our offensive possessions, and try to stop their two key players, (Jack McCormick) and (Case Lambert) on defense.”
The Pirates held Newcastle to only four points and could not stop the onslaught of points from the opposing team. In total, Perrin scored five 3-point shots and brought the score to 42-16 at the half.
Shots from Perrin’s Jack McCormick and Case Lambert, which plagued the team in the second quarter, continued to trouble Newcastle in the second half.
While Rylan Hinojosa, Mikey Soito, Jacob Omundi, Cooper Clayton and Hemby continued to put points on the board for the second half, the team was held to only 13 points overall.
The gap continued to widen as the Perrin team continued their scoring rush until the game ended with a 29-79 loss for Newcastle.
Leading in scoring for the Bobcats was Hemby with 13 points, followed by Omundi with six points, Newland and Soito with three points, and Hinojosa and Clayton with two points.
“Our goal, this year, is to be better every day. We are a young team, and a big part of being better every day is growing from mistakes,” King said. “We can’t keep making the same mistakes over and over again.”
After traveling Tuesday, Jan. 28 to Bryson the team will travel again Friday, Jan. 31 for a rematch against Garner.
With only three games remaining in district for the Bobcats, which will be Woodson, Throckmorton and Perrin, the team had its eyes on the playoffs.
“Moving forward, the big picture is to make the playoffs and go as far as possible. I feel like the pieces are there, we just have to come together as a team and stay together throughout the game,” King said. “I’m hopeful that things are going to start clicking in the second half of district play.”
