Apparently, he practices his free throws. :P
Next game: Semifinal, Wed. vs. Imhotep Charter (city league rival)
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Meadows hits clutch shots to lift Mansion
His four free throws in the waning moments preserved the Knights' win over Holy Cross.
By Pat Leonard
For The Inquirer
When Strawberry Mansion practices, the Knights are not allowed to leave the gym until each player makes 20 free throws. Yesterday at Freedom High in Bethlehem, senior guard Khalil Meadows made four down the stretch, enough to lift Mansion over Holy Cross in the PIAA Class AA boys' basketball quarterfinals, 59-55.
"We didn't discuss it, but I wanted the ball because I wanted to go to the line," said Meadows, who finished with eight points and five rebounds and made 4 of 7 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
Strawberry Mansion (26-1), District 12's fourth seed, never trailed against the District 2 champion Crusaders (23-6) of Dunmore (near Scranton). But the game was tied, 51-51, with three minutes, 17 seconds remaining.
Knights senior guard/forward Saadiq Berry broke the tie with a fastbreak layup to give Mansion a two-point lead, and then Meadows stretched it to four, 55-51, with two free throws and 2:13 left.
Holy Cross 6-foot-1 senior forward Brett Podhyski (20 points, five rebounds) closed the gap to two with a post move. But Mansion senior forward Jamal Jones (12 points, eight boards) answered, and Meadows held the Crusaders at bay with his free throws.
"We had the lead the whole game," Mansion coach Gerald Hendricks said. "So I'm satisfied with the outcome."
Strawberry Mansion advances to face a familiar foe in Wednesday's semifinals - defending state champion Imhotep Charter of the Public League. The Panthers, District 12's top seed, defeated District 4 titlist Hughesville in the quarterfinals yesterday, 42-37.
In Mansion's only meeting with Imhotep Charter this season, the Knights pulled out an 88-82 road victory in quadruple overtime on Feb. 2.
"I don't like the way we won the first game [against Imhotep], but it'll be exciting," said Jones, who transferred to Strawberry Mansion from Imhotep Charter this season.
Senior guard Devonte Newbill led the way for Mansion with 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists; he shot 7 of 9 from the field. The Marquette recruit made all four of his three-point attempts.
"My coach said he wanted me to be more aggressive scoring," said Newbill, who averages 25 points per game but had settled for 15 in Mansion's 61-54 second-round win over St. Pius X on Wednesday while spreading the ball around. "If it's open, I'm going to take [the shot]. I'm not going to force shots."
Despite a strong first three quarters, the 6-4 Newbill did not score in the fourth while attempting just one field goal and one free throw. But the Knights proved that when their star is not active down the stretch they still can survive and advance.
In a 14-point fourth quarter, Mansion got four points apiece from Meadows, Jones, and sophomore Khyree Wooten (six points, eight rebounds, two blocks).
"I like balanced scoring," said Mansion coach Hendricks, "even though you have your go-to scorer."
Strawberry Mansion has never won a state title, but the Knights reached the semifinals in 2007-08. There, Mansion fell, 76-72, in overtime to Jeannette, of District 7, which featured current Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Yesterday, only a few dedicated Strawberry Mansion fans made the trip to Bethlehem, while Holy Cross' following was large and loud. The Crusaders effectively had a home game, but Mansion tuned out the noise early and went into halftime ahead, 33-20.
"The crowd didn't really affect us," Newbill said.
"We like to feed off it," Meadows said. "It gets us going."
Holy Cross 12 8 18 17 - 55
Strawberry Mansion 14 19 12 14 - 59
HC: Eric O'Hora 8, Brett Podhyski 20, Louis Cipriano 5, Pat Purcell 10, Andrew Moran 3, J.J. Gaughan 9.
SM: Devonte Newbill 19, Khalil Meadows 8, Jamal Jones 12, Eric Jefferson 4, Cedrick Powell 3, Khyree Wooten 6, Saadiq Berry 7.
Find this article at:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/high_school/20100321_Meadows_hits_clutch_shots_to_lift_Mansion.html
The more I read on Newbill, the more I like him. From all reports he's not as athletic as Vander Blue, but he certainly seems to be more consistent. I think these 2 guys will be great for each other's careers at MU as they will push each other, likely defend each other in practice, and ultimately make each other better players.
If he shoots the 3 like this consistently, I see him as the perfect replacement to DJO.
Is salivating at the thought of DJO as a senior and Newbill as a soph lighting it up from three point land with Blue driving through gaps in the lane and Cadougan/Smith dishing the ball to all three. Throw in powerful 6-9 frosh to back up Otule/Crowder and its going to be a good time.
It sounds like Newbill has a solid shot. He will be a nice addition to MU.
very exciting, but Buzz would be fired if his team only hit 4 of 7 freethrows at the end!
Quote from: HoopsMalone on March 22, 2010, 10:19:45 AM
It sounds like Newbill has a solid shot. He will be a nice addition to MU.
How long til people write him off as a bust when he gets 7 minutes a game next season?
Quote from: ErickJD08 on March 22, 2010, 11:05:57 AM
How long til people write him off as a bust when he gets 7 minutes a game next season?
First we'll have to endure "Where's Newbill?" threads after every game lamenting his lack of playing time.
Quote from: Pakuni on March 22, 2010, 11:33:22 AM
First we'll have to endure "Where's Newbill?" threads after every game lamenting his lack of playing time.
LOL. For whatever reason, and I am probably guilty of this every so often, people
assume the following things with newcomers...
1. If they have not played a lot and a more senior player who plays their position is struggling,
assume the newcomer is better and can fill right in.
2. If newcomer plays a bit (5-10 mpg) and struggles,
assume the newcomer is a bust.
Sounds like the NFL Backup Quarterback theorem