Newton Advances To Title Game Of LIC Boys Tourney, LPC Tourney Update

NEWTON -- Newton High School advanced to the championship game of the Little Illini Conference Boys Basketball Tournament with a victory Tuesday evening.

The Eagles, seeded third, handed second-seeded Lawrenceville a 65-60 loss.

Lawrenceville edged out to a 16-13 opening quarter lead but Newton put together a 23-18 second period to lead 36-34 at halftime.

The Indians came back with a 23-11 third quarter to lead 57-47 going into the final quarter.

That's when Newton got back on the scoring track with an 18-3 run to pull out the five-point victory.

Three players tallied in double figures for the winners. Caden Nichols hit six field goals, three of those trifectas, and was 10 of 13 at the line for 25 points. Parker Wolf added 14 and Gus Bierman chipped in with 11. Dylan Gier led in rebounds with eight while Wolf pulled down seven.

The Eagles hit 14 of 19 from the free throw line and had seven three-pointers Newton is now 16-7 on the season.

In the second contest of the evening, Richland County defeated Casey-Westfield 48-24.

Tonight's games feature Paris taking on Mount Carmel at 6 and Robinson against Marshall at 7:30 in consolation bracket play.

Newton will now square off against Richland County at 7:30 p.m. Friday for the championship. Casey-Westfield and Lawrenceville will meet for third place at 6.

LIC Tournament

Game Eight

NEWTON (65)

Meinhart 0-0 -- 0, Nichols 6-10 -- 25, Bierman 5-0 -- 11, Wolf 5-1 -- 14, Weber 3-2 -- 8, Gier 3-1 -- 7. TOTALS 22 FG, 14 FT.

LAWRENCEVILLE (60)

Hardiman 2-0 -- 5, Sanders 4-1 -- 11, Cessna 2-1 -- 5, Jenkins 10-3 -- 24, Pargin 4-0 -- 10, Golff 1-0 -- 3, Ivers 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 24 FG, 5 FT.

Newton                         13    23    11    18    --    65

Lawrenceville              16    18    23      3    --    60

3-point FG -- Newton 7 (Nichols 3, Wolf 3, Bierman 1), Lawrenceville 7 (Sanders 2, Pargin 2, Hardiman 1, Jenkins 1, Goff 1).

At Arthur

Arcola and Okaw Valley were winners in Tuesday evening play at the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament.

Arcola won over Agenta-Oreana, 55-35 while Okaw Valley edged Sullivan, 59-56.

Tonight's games feature Cumberland against Unity Christian at 5 p.m., Heritage vs. Tri-County at 6:30 (East Gym), Blue Ridge vs. Cerro Gordo/Bement at 6:30 (West Gym) and Villa Grove taking on Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond at 8.