By PAUL GOTHAM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Kyle Slywka connected on a 3-pointer with 28.7 seconds remaining, and the Waterloo boys’ basketball team advanced to the Section V Class B1 championship game with a 51-49 victory over Newark, Tuesday at Pittsford Sutherland High School.
Trailing 49-47, teammate Julian Ruiz led Slywka for the game winner.
“I know he trusts me,” Slywka said recalling a contest last year when the teammates connected on another game winner. “I just let it loose I guess.”
The basket highlighted a 7-0 Waterloo run to close the game.
“He stepped up and hit a big shot,” first-year head coach Tim Darnell said. “He’s a big-time player. There was some stuff that didn’t go his way and our way, but he stepped up and made the shot when it counts. That’s the kind of play Kyle makes. He’s fearless.”
Waterloo led throughout the first half, but Newark used an 8-1 run early in the third quarter to take its first lead of the game.
Josh Green converted a steal and dunk. Blade Case led Raeshawn Howard for two, and the Reds had a 29-28 edge.
Freshman Raeshawn Howard gives @NewarkAthletics its first lead of the night at 29-28 pic.twitter.com/Xi2y5Y72JO
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 4, 2020
Newark took its largest lead of the game at 49-45 when Green scored on a drive a to the bucket.
Carter Steve connects from the corner to give @NewarkAthletics a 47-44 lead pic.twitter.com/OY3fa8ROUa
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 4, 2020
It was Newark’s final basket of the game.
“We’ve had games like that this year where we’ve lost, and our kids learned from them,” Darnell noted. “I give them a lot of credit. We knew this was going to be tough, but we found a way. We found a way to get it done. We battled. Newark played great. They’re big. They’re huge, but we did what we had to do to fight, scrap and claw to get it done.”
Michael Hubbard converted one of two free throws with one minute and 40 seconds remaining. Devin Felber’s rebound and putback on the next possession cut the deficit to two at 49-47.
Slywka delivered the next time down the floor.
“We just rebounded at the end of the game and pulled it out,” Slywka stated. “Sometimes we don’t box out and get rebounds. That’s always our downfall. We just needed to stress that.”
Ferber finished with a team-high 15 points. Hubbard had 12. Ruiz and Slywka scored nine apiece. Joel Kraft added five, and Brian Oddi contributed a free throw.
Kyle Slywka opens the second half with a free throw line jumper. @WaterlooIndians 26 @NewarkAthletics 21 pic.twitter.com/xCKaAiCa7O
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 4, 2020
Newark’s Green posted a game-high 18. Devin Agosto had eight. Isaiah Camp scored seven. Carter Steve and Dustin Case both accounted for six points. Howard chipped in with four.
Josh Green grabs the rebound and goes the length of the floor, @NewarkAthletics trails Waterloo at halftime: 24-21. pic.twitter.com/w6UW8bFk5D
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 4, 2020
Waterloo will play Geneva in Saturday’s championship game. It will be the Indians first trip to the finals since 2001 when they lost to Livonia in the Class B final. Waterloo’s last sectional championship came in 1972 when the Indians beat Lyons, 60-57 in the Class A title game. Pat Dunlea earned Tournament MVP honors that year. Bobby Cox, Dave Daeffler and Jeff Hillmire were named to the All-Tournament team.
“We’re going to try and do what we can do, but we know it’s going to be tough,” Darnell said.
A 9 a.m. tip off is scheduled at Blue Cross Arena.
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