State Finals
GHSA Sweet 16
Georgia Hoops
February 26, 2022
Newton advances to the Elite 8 of the super tuff’ GHSA 7A Division with a 80-59 win (on the road in a hostile environment I might add) against a well coached West Forsyth team. Battle-tested teams understand that the game isn’t going to be won in the first few minutes. Newton basically wore down West Forsyth over 3qtrs of play. By the fourth, Newton was in control of the game. Indiana commit Jakai Newton finished with a game-high 19 points. He scored 12 points in the 2nd quarter when the Rams needed him the most. West Forsyth was on firing at one point and Jakai’s play kept the flames from becoming a CA brush fire. Newton was able to keep its composure and turned up the heat of its own.
Player of the year Stephon Castle, a UCONN verbal, finished with 15 points, grabbed numerous rebs, and dished out several dimes, showing his true versatility on the court. He’s hands-down top 3 in the State of GA for his class. Georgia Bulldog commit Qua Brown (15 pts) is looking more and more like the player he’s built to become at the next level. Rebounding and pushing the rock, scoring from all three-levels, and being a menace on D. 2023 Marcus Whitlock, who just picked up an offer from North Carolina A&T, scored 9 of his 12 points in the 3rd, giving Newton scoring off the bench during a 3rd quarter that saw the Rams smother West Forsyth on both ends of the court. Whitlock’s ability to come off the bench and supply Newton with instant offense, provides Newton with a true X-factor. Newton also received solid play from F 2022 Daniel Pounds and Malachi Hardy. Their inside play exposed West Forsyth’s inability to play solid interior defense.
3rd Year Coach Charlemagne Gibbons continues to hold his players accountable but also allows them to express themselves on the court. That balance has proven to be effective this season, with a few bumps in the road along the way. Newton takes on Archer in the Elite 8, a team that took them to the wire in a 61-60 nail-biter on November 30, 2021. The rematch will be played at Newton HS. Look for Newton and their home-court advantage to play a huge role in the Rams moving on to the Fina Four – facing the winner of Grayson vs Berkmar.
It takes a village fam’.
If you can, continue to support PoscoutHoops. We want nothing but to see you excel on and off the court. God Bless.