NEWTON — The Newton High School boys’ basketball team had its chances to put things away, but still came through in the clutch in a 58-57 win over Hutchinson Tuesday in AV-CTL I play Tuesday at Ravenscroft Gym.
Ty Berry scored 23 points, including a pair of free throws with 4.0 seconds to play for the game-winner.
“We didn’t always play as well as we needed to,” Berry said. “We didn’t always get back on defense the way we needed to. We had our two big guys in foul trouble. We had some turnovers in the second half. They were able to hit some threes. We did hit some free throws when we needed to.”
Berry finished the game eight of nine from the line. Damarius Peterson added 10 points in the second half, hitting six of seven from the line.
“We had a lot of mental lapses,” Newton coach Andy Hill said. “We don’t play every possession with a sense of urgency — especially on the defensive end. Sometimes, we didn’t on the offensive end. We just give away too many possessions. Even when it’s the middle of the second quarter. We’re not there yet. We’re young and still learning how to win and win consistently. The one good thing about tonight is we found a way to win. We have to get a lot better, and that starts with me.”
Hutchinson, 1-4 overall and 0-3 in league play, was led by Max Ontjes with 14 points, all in the second half. Davian Vigil and Tre’Vaughn Jones each scored 11 points. Vigil scored all of his points in the second half, eight in the fourth quarter.
“Our guys did fight,” Hutchinson coach Ted Webster said. “We haven’t had a lot of success the past couple of years win- and loss-wise, but as far as being able to be able to go out and come back from a lead is a big deal for us right now.”
Each team had 14 turnovers. Hutchinson had nine in the first half. Newton had eight in the second.
“Turnovers hurt us, especially early,” Webster said. “We did not do a great job of getting back, but that’s something we can work on and get better.”
Newton jumped out to an 11-6 lead in the game. Jacob Cole hit two free throws with 1.0 seconds remaining in the quarter to get Hutchinson within three, 11-8.
The Railers led by as many as seven in the second quarter, but turnovers late in the period allowed Hutchinson to get within two. A pair of Berry free throws put Newton up 26-22 at the half.
Newton got out by six in the third quarter, again missing chances to press its advantage. Cailen Valdez hit two free throws and a layup in the final minute of the period to get Newton back up by five. A pair of Ontjes free throws with 14 seconds remaining cut the Railer lead to three, 42-39.
Again Newton took a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter, missing chances to extend it. Ontjes hit two free throws with 4:24 remaining to put the Salt Hawks up by one. After a missed dunk by Ontjes, Berry put Newton back in the lead with a three-point play with 3:31 to play. Peterson followed with a layup with 2:41 in regulation. Alex Krogmeier then hit a layup in transition after Hutchinson missed shot. Tate Webster broke the run with two free throws with 1:24 in regulation.
A Vigil putback with 29.9 seconds in regulation cut the Railer lead to one.
After a Railer turnover on the inbounds, Vigil hit a layup to put Hutchinson in the lead. Peterson hit two free throws with 19.4 seconds in regulation.
Vigil put Hutchinson up by one with a layup with 10 seconds remaining. Berry drove all the way on the subsequent possession to draw the foul. An Ontjes 3-point attempt at the buzzer rimmed off.
Newton is 3-4, 2-1 in AV-CTL I play. The Railers host Salina South at 7:30 p.m. Friday. South is 1-5, 1-3 in league play, coming off a 77-60 loss to Derby before the break.
“I haven’t watched any film on them,” Hill said. “I know they’re kind of young. We have to keep this going. We have Salina South and Derby before our mid-season tourney. Hopefully, we can get better in these next couple of days and build some momentum.”
Hutchinson hosts 3-2 Derby Friday.
“In our league, there won’t be any easy ones,” Ted Webster said. “We have to cut down turnovers and work on transition D. Those are the two big ones. If we can get those things fixed and make some shots, we’ll be a dangerous team.”
HUTCHINSON (1-4, 0-3 AV-CTL I) — Vigil 5 1-1 3, 11; Williard 2 (1) 2-2 0, 9; Jones 0 (2) 5-6 5, 11; Cole 0 (1) 0-0 3, 3; Ontjes 2 (1) 7-9 3, 14; Heneha 0 0-0 0, 0; Webster 2 3-4 4, 7; Manny 0 0-0 0, 0; Davis 1 0-0 0, 2; Turner 0 0-0 2, 0; MacDonald 0 0-0 0, 0; TOTALS 12 (5) 18-22 20, 57.
NEWTON (3-4, 2-1 AV-CTL I) — Presley 2 2-2 2, 6; Valdez 2 0-0 0, 4; Krogmeier 1 (1) 0-1 4, 5; Sauceda 0 0-0 0, 0; Hampton 2 2-2 1, 6; Jones 2 0-6 5, 4; Berry 3 (3) 8-9 2, 23; Peterson 2 6-7 4, 10; TOTALS 14 (4) 18-27 18, 58.
Hutchinson;8;14;17;17;—57
Newton;11;15;16;16;—58