NEWPORT – It was all smiles in a highly competitive game between Newport and Stevens unified basketball on Wednesday afternoon, with the Cardinals coming away with a 40-34 road victory.
The Cardinals’ win was their first victory of the season, and the first win for head coach Mimi Rhines.
On her first win, coach Rhines said, “It’s really exciting. The kids are great… they’re so supportive of each other. I’m very lucky to have these kids this year… even when we lose we all have fun. So, winning is just an added bonus.”
Coach Rhines said she has seen her players improve already in the young season. “They’re definitely improving… we’re taking shots that we wouldn’t have taken just a couple weeks ago and they’re starting to move as a team,” she said.
There was a full student section cheering on the Tigers on Wednesday, and the athletes were sharing the ball, diving on the floor for loose balls, and when they sank a shot, the crowd erupted in cheer.
Newport’s Ethan Trombley was welcomed with the biggest cheer of the day. To end the third quarter, Trombley grabbed a defensive rebound and sprinted down the length of the floor and made a buzzer-beating shot off the glass from the left side to cut the Stevens lead down to 32-24.
“Ethan is good at grabbing the ball and getting out going,” said Newport first-year head coach Beth Foy. “…he’s definitely our speedster.”
On her team’s performance, Foy said, “The kids put a lot of effort in and they were getting up and down the court. We’re still learning positioning.
“Our goals are to have fun, get everyone in and to have everyone touch the ball,” added Foy.
High-fives, arms thrown up in the air in celebration, and laughter were flowing throughout Wheeler Gym Wednesday.
Newport will host Hinsdale on Wednesday, January 30, while Stevens. These two teams will meet up in Claremont when Stevens hosts Newport on February 4.
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