By Kindsey Bernhard
NKyTribune contributor
FRANKFORT — Newport Central Catholic’s run of successful comebacks in the Kentucky All “A” Classic boys’ state basketball tournament ended Sunday with a 66-48 loss to Paris in the championship game at Frankfort Convention Center.
Paris took a 19-point lead in the first half by shooting 51 percent (15 of 29) from the floor with eight 3-point baskets. NewCath wasn’t able to overcome that deficit and finish strong in the fourth quarter like it did in its three previous tournament games.
“We dug ourselves a hole too early and it was hard to come back from,” said NewCath senior guard Luke Moeves. “They just came out hot. Nothing you can do when they’re shooting lights out.”
Paris took its first lead of the game on a 3-pointer with 4:20 left in the first quarter and led by as much as 22 points, 40-18, late in the second quarter. The half ended with the Greyhounds on top, 43-24.
At halftime, NewCath head coach Ken Collopy told his players they needed to do a better job on defense and they responded. In the second half, Paris was 9-of-25 from the field with no 3-point goals.
“I think a lot of the second-half challenge for (Paris) was we were contesting those shots,” Collopy said. “We had to get up on shooters and with us going back to man (defense) that probably had something to do with it too.”
NewCath went on a 14-6 run in the third quarter that cut the margin to 49-38. Early in the fourth quarter, Moeves hit a 3-point shot that made it 51-41. But Paris regained the momentum and pulled away once again to win its first small-school state championship.
“I was very proud of the way that we kind of showed good positive reaction to adversity in the third quarter,” Collopy said. “We came back. We didn’t lose our fight. But again you can only do that so many times in a tournament.”
Turnovers were a problem for the Thoroughbreds. They had 17 and Paris was able to score 16 points off those miscues. The Greyhounds scored a net total of 73 points off turnovers in their four state tournament victories.
“We talked about that before the game,” Collopy said. “We have to limit (turnovers), especially against a team as good as them.”
Moeves led the Thoroughbreds in scoring with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Brennan Hall had 15 points, two assists and two rebounds. Those two guards and junior forward Brendan Luken were the NewCath players named to the state all-tournament team.
This was the first time NewCath lost in the All “A” Classic state championship game after winning titles in 2000, 2013, 2014 and 2015. But the players don’t have time to brood over the setback. Collopy said his team has three games this week and will use the tournament experience moving forward.
NEWCATH 10 14 14 10 — 48
PARIS 22 21 6 17 — 66
NEWCATH (14-8): Hall 5 4 15, Pangallo 2 0 5, Moeves 5 3 17, Wurtz 2 2 6, McDaniel 1 1 3, Luken 1 0 2. Totals: 16 10 48.
PARIS (19-6): Cunningham 4 0 9, Dumphord 1 1 3, Johnson 7 2 19, Ashford 3 2 9, Wells 5 5 15, R. Davis 3 0 9, J.Davis 1 0 2. Totals: 24 10 66.
Three-pointers: NC — Moeves 4, Hall, Pangallo. P — Johnson 3, R. Davis 3, Ashford, Cunningham.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Paris — Jekobi Well (MVP), Marcus Ashford, Jordan Davis, Eric Johnson. NewCath — Brennan Hall, Brenden Luken, Luke Moeves. Russellville — DeAndre Bradshaw, Jacob Naylor. Lexington Christian — Kyle Rode, Chandler Stewart. University Heights — Dekeyvan Tandy. Mayfield — Conner Guthrie.
LOCAL TEAMS IN ALL “A” CLASSIC BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
2017 — Paris 66, Newport Central Catholic 48
2015 — Newport Central Catholic 78, Monroe County 36
2014 — Newport Central Catholic 72, Cordia 61
2013 — Newport Central Catholic 75, Bardstown 54
2012 — Holy Cross 52, Bardstown 51
2007 — Brossart 56, Bardstown 48
2004 — Hazard 43, Brossart 38
2003 — St. Henry 81, Rose Hill Christian 62
2000 — Newport Central Catholic 52, Highview Baptist 33
1998 — University Heights 59, St. Henry 42