Falcons fall to the Red Devils ... and another basketball season ends

BlueRidgeNow.com
Feb 27, 2008

NEWTON -- Part of the challenge in the state boys' high school basketball playoffs is being able to play the game different ways.

By Chris Hobbs
Hickory Daily Record

NEWTON -- Part of the challenge in the state boys' high school basketball playoffs is being able to play the game different ways.For the Newton-Conover boys on Tuesday night, it was about measuring up to West Henderson's physical style in a first-round game of the 2-A bracket.Keeping their cool, the Red Devils edged the Falcons 60-50 to advance to a second round game on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Mountain Heritage, a 47-46 first-round winner over North Wilkes.Adrian Powell scored 14 points, Roderick Geter had 12 points and six rebounds and Jordan Gibbs had 10 points and nine rebounds as Newton-Conover (17-9) won for the 10th time in 11 games."Composure," said Gibbs of why he felt the Red Devils won. "And keeping it together and some of the other guys stepping up."The Red Devils overcame two early fouls on Powell and Gibbs and an aggressive effort by the Falcons (13-13), who are coached by former East Burke head coach Rob Bliss.When Powell and Gibbs were in early foul trouble, it did not disrupt the Red Devils' offense, with Grant Vinson coming off the bench to score four second-quarter points.Newton-Conover led 30-16 at the half.Zach Corliss led West Henderson with 25 points and Buddy Hutchinson had 13.A late 13-5 run by the Falcons made it a 10-point game after Newton-Conover had leads of as many as 19 points late in the third quarter.SummaryWEST HENDERSON (50) -- James 2, Corliss 25, Hutchinson 13, Ducote 4, Staggs 2, Troutman 4, Landreth, Isgett, Hyatt, Barbour, Roberts, Thomas, Thelen, Williams.NEWTON-CONOVER (60) -- Gillespie 8, Vinson 4, Royall 4, Davis 6, Geter 12, Powell 14, Kelley 2, Jordan Gibbs 10.Halftime: Newton-Conover, 30-16. Copyright © 2008 BlueRidgeNow.com