Newton South VS Lexington Playoff Game Report

Nothing like playoff basketball. Here is the game review for the Preliminary matchup between Newton South and Lexington.   Game review:   Lexington starters:   Darin Onguar, Ryan Asarpour, Amir Mow, Sam Myerburg, and junior guard Chris Lupone   Newton South starters:   [player_tooltip player_id='1532707' first='Josh' last='Rivers'], Nick Gilo, Tyson Robison, Matteo Lee, and Cainain Weersesinghe.     Unfortunately for South, they were playing without key ball handlers Amari Tran (senior) and Jake Tubman (sophomore).   First half:   Buckets from several different players for Lexington, paired up with multiple tough defensive stops gave them a small early lead, and was enough for Coach Corey Lowe of Newton South to call a timeout. Following, Lexington jumped out into a zone that had the intensity that made it clear tonight wasn't just a regular season game, but an elimination playoff game. With guards Jake Tubman and Amari Tran out for this game, South resorted to Nick Gilo and [player_tooltip player_id='1532707' first='Josh' last='Rivers'] to run their offense in the starting lineup. After several straight scoreless possessions, [player_tooltip player_id='2568348' first='Tyson' last='Robinson'] hit a big three for the Lions to bring the game to 9-6 with Lexington in front. After a hard fought first quarter, Lexington led 11-7. A deep three pointer from Derin Ongur banked in for Lexington, extending their lead to 11. Missing both of their primary ball handlers in Jake Tubman and Amari Tran, I think a main reason South was falling behind.   Lexington continued to put their heads down and attack the paint, and that was where the majority of their points came from, as they entered halftime with a controlling 26-13 lead.   Second half:   Two straight buckets to start the second half for Newton South brought the fans to life, but Lexington quickly answered in the form of a strong attack from Ryan Asarpour. After a cold start in the first half, Matteo Lee was finally able to knock down a mid range shot that had been almost automatic for him all season long. Derin Ongur followed it up with yet another tough bucket, going at the chest of the Lions' big man. The Lexington Minuteman held a 36-27 lead heading into the final period.   The Lions scored 7 straight to start the quarter, cutting the lead to just two. It didn't take long for Lexington to regain control over themselves and the game, and their five quick unanswered points led to a Newton South timeout. A deep three pointer from [player_tooltip player_id='2878884' first='Cainan' last='Weeresinghe'] of the Lions gave them hope, bringing the game to 43-39, but that would be the final points of the game scored for Newton South. The Lexington Minuteman defeated the Newton South Lions in the playoff preliminaries with a final score of 49-39.   Notable game performers:   Newton South   [player_tooltip player_id='2568348' first='Tyson' last='Robinson'], F/C, Class of 2026, HT 6-5   Just like he had been doing all season, Tyson showed his ability to score on multiple levels. Throughout the game he hit threes, mid range shots, and of course paired that up with using his size and strength down low. All season long Tyson has shown his ability to block shots off of the backboard with tenacious power, and I expect more of the same and more next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='2960037' first='Omer' last='Rabbi'], G/F, Class of 2026, HT 6-0   One of his best performances of the season, Omer played with unmatched effort and intensity all night long. On both ends of the floor, he was repeatedly the first one to all loose balls. He also demonstrated his strength and will to get to the basket, with several strong drives and putback shots. Omer will also be looking forward to his junior year.   Lexington:   Derin Ongur, G/F, Class of 2024, HT 6-2   Throughout the game, Derin Ongur dominated the post on both ends of the floor. Showing his veteran experience, he calmly and swiftly attacked [player_tooltip player_id='2568348' first='Tyson' last='Robinson'] throughout the game, despite a noticeable size disadvantage. Ongur also hit several key three pointers for his team throughout the game, and will look to do more of the same against CM soon.   Ryan Asarpour, Forward, Class of 2024, HT 6-3   Ryan hit big shots all night long for the minuteman from both inside the paint and also beyond the arc. The pairing of teammates Ryan and Derin is a nightmare for opponents, especially when they don't have adequate height and size to defend the paint. Ryan will be looking to extend his final high school basketball as long as possible with a deep playoff run.