Newport
The Jacks (1-3) earned their first win, while the Tigers dropped to 0-5.
Windsor coach Harry Ladue thinks that maybe his 1-18 squad in 1988 may have had a worse start than this season’s team. But with Friday night’s effort, the Jacks avoided a four-loss streak to start the season and gave an indication that all the stars are back to their usual alignment.
“It’s still Windsor basketball,” said Newport coach Bill Page, who coached with and played for Ladue at Windsor.
Page would someday like to see his Tigers develop into a team that can play at top speed every second.
“These Newport kids play hard, and I have nothing but praise for their effort,” he said.
Newport (0-5) threw a scare into the Jacks for a period of time, holding a 21-16 lead with 4:51 to go in the second quarter. Then Windsor sophomore John Cook III entered the game and scored all six of his points in 29 seconds to give Windsor a lead it never relinquished.
Windsor went on to outscore the Tigers, 14-2, the rest of the period for a 30-23 cushion at the half. The Jacks added to the lead in the second half.
Windsor’s Robbie Slocum was the focus of the Newport defense, and he spent the night scrambling on defense and feeding on offense. He was also at peace after the Jacks finally hit the win column.
“We’re getting better,” the senior said. “We’re communicating better and finding the open man. This was good.”
Ryland Richardson had a 22-point night for Windsor, and Ladue felt that his effort was crucial.
“They were all over Robbie, and Richardson really stepped up,” Ladue said.
The Jacks could have made it a lot easier if they hit their free throws. The Jacks were only 10-of-29 from the line.
Seniors JT Blaine (15 points) and Joey Ackerman (13) kept Newport in the game for a while, but nobody else on the squad had more than four points.
After something of a standstill the first 12 minutes of the game, the middle opened up for Cook to score his three quick second-quarter buckets. The Jacks poured in points the rest of the night, particularly from down low in the paint on offensive rebounds.
“I don’t know what happened,” Page said. “I don’t think we got tired.”
Whatever the reason, Windsor outscored Newport, 48-22, in the last 22 minutes.
Newport showed some spark when it came out of the locker room in the second half, cutting the deficit to 31-26, but the Tigers scored only three points in the last six minutes.
Hunter Grela also had a double-digit game for the Jacks with 13 points.
Newport is off from league action until it hosts Campbell on Jan. 4. But the Tigers will be busy next week with three games at the Keene State College holiday tournament.
Windsor goes to Green Mountain on Thursday.