Sports Report December 10, 2024

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Members and sponsors, if you haven't already picked up your spirit items, be sure to stop by the athletic department office in the Palaestra building on a weekday between 7:45am - 9am or 2pm - 3:15pm, as distribution will end on December 20.  Thank you!

Boys Basketball

Newman Sweeps Competition to Win 61st Annual Newman Invitational Tournament

In last weekend’s highly-competitive 61st Annual Newman Invitational Tournament, Newman’s athletic dominance was on full display as they defeated all three opponents in a weekend of intense matchups and claimed the tournament championship for the third time in four years.

Girls Basketball

The girls varsity basketball team continues to improve, and the team had some great individual and team performances in its four games.

On Tuesday (12/4), the team defeated Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School of Kenner with a final score of 61 to 34. The Greenies dominated the court for all four quarters. Junior Madison Williams led the team with 18 points, which included two three-pointers.

Eighth grader Piper Christian contributed 10 points to the victory, senior Kasia Wells scored nine points, and juniors Maggie Richardson and Sophia Mills scored six and five points. Also putting points on the board were seniors Stella Joyce and Audrey Bagot, junior Amari Jones, and sophomore Dawson Wells.

At the end of last week, Newman hosted the 61st Annual Newman Invitational Tournament. The coaching staff and numerous parent volunteers did a fantastic job, resulting in an excellent tournament for all of the participants.

The girls varsity team played three games in the NIT. On Thursday (12/6), the team defeated cross-town rival Benjamin Franklin High School, 44 to 33. The team had a big early lead in that game, but Ben Franklin had a strong third quarter and narrowed the gap to only two points. Fortunately, the Greenies rallied in the final quarter to clinch the victory. Williams again led the Greenies with 13 points, which included a three-pointer. Wells and Joyce scored 8 points each. Junior Jessica Taranto added 6 points, Jones scored 5 points, and Wells and Christian each made a basket.

On Friday (12/7), the team lost their second round in the NIT on Varisty Sports Now here to Mount Carmel Academy with a final score of 31 to 45. Williams was responsible for over half of the points for the Greenies thanks to the 16 points that she put on the board. Wells and Joyce combined to add another nine points to the score. Also scoring during the game were Taranto, Wells, and Christian.

The upcoming week will be busy for the team. Today, the varsity team will play East Jefferson High School in the Palaestra at 5:30pm and on Varsity Sports now here. Tomorrow (12/11), the JV and the varsity teams will host St. Scholastica Academy in the Palaestra at 5:00pm and 6:00pm, and on Friday (12/13), the JV and the varsity teams will play Riverdale High School in the Palaestra at 4:30pm and 5:30pm.

Boys Soccer

The varsity soccer boys had a busy week. In their matches, all at home, the Greenies defeated Thomas Jefferson Academy for Advanced Studies by the score of 8-0 (maximum goal differential), edged out Archbishop Hannan High School 1-0, and earned a nice 5-0 win last night against Northshore High School.

In the Hannan game, broadcast on Varsity Sports Now here, the Greenies, who were missing some key players due to a speech and debate tournament in Texas, faced a fast and physical opponent. Playing strong defense, the Hawks were able to hold Newman scoreless until the 75th minute and looked content to settle for a draw. In the final moments, however, Will Pinkerton drove a deep goal kick across the halfway line to George Villere, who beat his defender and passed the ball up the right wing to Cole Spady. Once in the penalty area, Spady clipped a left-footed cross back to Villere, who buried the game winner high into the back of the net.

Last night’s game against Northshore was similarly hard-fought and physical, but this one had some moments of true brilliance. In the fourth minute, defender Rowan Dravid opened the scoring with a powerful header on a corner kick for this fourth goal of the year. Twenty minutes later, midfielder Paul Richard drilled a poor clearance into the back of the net to double the score. Shortly thereafter, a Jake Isenberg corner kick was headed down by Will Pinkerton to Cole Spady, whose standing bicycle kick rocketed over the Panthers keeper for the Greenies’ third goal.

In the second half, a dangerous high kick by the Panthers in the penalty area led to an indirect free kick, which Spady ripped in from close distance with the tap-over assist from Richard. In the finale, an incredible run by winger Rylan Claverie in the 55th minute led to a hat-trick ball over to Spady, who finished on frame for his team-leading 21st goal on the season. For their part, the defense, led by center backs Alex Dulitz and Jake Lonseth, played a strong game and the midfielders’ passing was solid. The hearty fans, especially the large group of students in the Greenie Swamp, represented Newman very well, and certainly had a good time doing so.

Upcoming this week, the Greenies (8-0) will play on Thursday night (12/12) at 7pm on VSN against a very side from Archbishop Rummel High School (5-2-2). On Saturday, the boys will travel to Baton Rouge for the Copa Acadiana Tournament. Be sure to come out and support the boys on Thursday, and wouldn’t a road trip to Baton Rouge on Saturday be fun? The first game is a brunch match against H.L. Bourgeois High School (5-2) at 11am, followed by a supper match against North Vermilion High School (2-2-2) at 5pm. There’s no better way to spend your Saturday, so see you there!

Girls Soccer

Last week on December 3rd, the varsity girls took on Louise S. McGehee School at Pan American Stadium. This match was a division game that would give Uptown bragging rights to the victor. Senior Sarah Gibbs Smallpage put the Greenies on the board first with a nice goal from the left side. Though time of possession was clearly won by Newman in the first half, an accidental hand ball foul in the box before the end of the half resulted in a goal for the Hawks, making the score 1 – 1 at halftime. The second half would prove to belong to the Greenies with strong shots on goal by Lili Arjmand, Brooke Montano, Kingsland LeBourgeois, Alyse Dulitz, and Sydney Gallagher. Newman would beat the Hawks 5-1, improving its undefeated record to 2-0-1, with goals by Smallpage, Montano, Arjmand, Genevieve Plaisance and freshman SuSu Milling.

On Monday night, the Greenies hosted the front end of a double header in their new black uniforms against Northshore High School (5-2-1) on VSN here. Panther goals just before halftime and in the first minutes of the second half quickly put Newman down 0-2. Things looked bleak for the Greenies until the 66th minute, when a low-driving free kick goal by Catherine Lapeyre finally got Newman on the board. Five minutes later, a Sydney Gallagher throw-in bounced over a defender, allowing Lili Arjmand to track it down and knock in the equalizer. In the final minutes, after a foul on Arjmand, defender Genevieve Plaisance lined up and crushed a 40-yard wonder strike into the net for an incredible game winner.

With the comeback 3-2 win, the undefeated Greenies improved their record to 3-0-1. Tomorrow (12/11) at 5pm, the girls will host D-3 powerhouse Parkview Baptist School (9-1) before breaking for exams next week. Go Greenies!

Upcoming Schedule

See the latest Newman sports schedule here and purchase individual home game tickets here. Thank you for supporting Newman athletics, its teams, players, coaches, and administration.