Signature defensive stops elude Wildcats

BY TOM WILSON • Sports Writer • March 15, 2009

COLUMBUS -- Newark has relied on its defense all season, but it couldn't stop Dublin Scioto.

Defense was a big reason the Wildcats won a share of the Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division championship and were playing in their third straight Division I district final.

On Saturday, the Wildcats struggled to get key stops against No. 2 seed Dublin Scioto in a 68-52 loss to the hot-shooting Irish at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum.

Scioto jumped out to a 10-0 start, making its first six shots, and Newark never really recovered.

Although the Wildcats cut the deficit to 21-17 heading into the second quarter, they never got a defensive stop when they needed it.

Scioto shot 69 percent from the field, including 75 percent in the first half, and hit 6-of-8 3-pointers.

Scioto was led by senior Bradley McDougald, who finished with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. He had 17 points at halftime.

"We're a very good basketball team, and we have 23 games to prove it," Newark coach Jeff Quackenbush said. "Give them credit. ... McDougald played a great game, and when he's making jump shots and you have to close around him, it made it tough on our interior defense."

Scioto coach Tony Bisutti didn't expect it to be as easy as it was but felt the Irish's hot start was a big key.

"We were definitely dialed into what we wanted to do offensively," Bisutti said. "I was a little surprised because I expected an OCC-type, fight-for-everything-you-can-get type of game.

"We wanted to go inside early and we did that, and our guys kind of fed off each other. We also took their crowd out of it early, and our guys gained a lot of confidence from that."

After getting behind early, the Wildcats were fighting an uphill battle. Midway through the third quarter, the Wildcats closed within 41-33 but could get no closer.

"When you've got guys that are bigger, stronger and faster, it's going to be easy for them," Quackenbush said. "It's a whole different animal when you don't have the lead and you're playing from behind.

"We just couldn't get close enough. We'd get close, but they ran their motion offense so well, and they are the best passing team I've seen in my 10 years, especially on the interior."

Things seemed to come easy for the Irish at both ends of the court, and while Newark tried to get back in the game, Scioto wouldn't allow it.

"We have outstanding perimeter players," Bisutti said.

Tom Wilson can be reached at (740) 328-8558 or twilson@newarkadvocate.com.