By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Senior guard MeKell Burries scored 42 points in one of his best offensive performances of the season and Newport whipped Holy Cross, 84-66, in Friday’s semifinal round of the 9th Region All “A” Classic boys’ basketball tournament at Newport.
Newport senior guard MeKell Burries scored 42 points in his team’s semifinal win over Holy Cross. (Photo by Bob Jackson)
Burries, one of the area’s leading scorers with a 23.5 average, got baskets on drives, put-backs and perimeter shots during the Wildcats’ victory. He ended up making 16 of 26 field goals for 61.5 percent, including 7 of 10 3-point attempts.
Newport took a 42-19 lead in the first half when Burries pumped in 30 points. He scored seven points in the third quarter and five more in the fourth quarter before coach Rod Snapp took him out of the game.
Junior forward Tahj Harding also had a big night for the Wildcats, posting a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. The team’s other double-figure scorer was junior guard Donnie Miller with 12 points.
The top scorer for Holy Cross was senior guard Parker Zimmerman with 19 points. Senior guard Nolan Schrand got all 11 of his points in the second half for the Indians.
Newport advances to the regional championship game and plays Beechwood at 7 p.m. Saturday. The winner will represent the 9th Region in the small-school state tournament that begins Thursday at McBrayer Arena in Richmond.
Beechwood came from behind to beat St. Henry, 68-49, in the other regional semifinal game on Friday. This is the first time since 1992 that the Tigers have made it to the title game, according to coach Erik Goetz.
St. Henry jumped out to a 16-4 lead, but Beechwood reduced it to 24-21 by halftime. The Tigers went on to outscore the Crusaders 22-12 and 25-13 in the final two quarters.
Beechwood freshman guard Scotty Draud scored 11 of his game-high 25 points in the third quarter to spark his team’s comeback. In the fourth quarter, the Tigers made 12 of 18 free throws and they ended up with a 24-2 scoring advantage at the foul line.
St. Henry’s leading scorer was junior forward Quentin Becker with 18 points. He got 11 points in the first quarter when the Crusaders took the early lead, but they couldn’t maintain it.
Beechwood enters Saturday’s regional championship game with an 11-8 record. Newport (15-4) is riding a seven-game winning streak and scored 81 points or more in four of those victories. When the two teams played earlier this season, the Wildcats posted an 84-68 win behind a 32-point performance by Burries.
