By GREG MENGELT
New Wash beat Crothersville 70-19 on Tuesday, improving its record to 11-9.
The Mustangs (11-9) also got a favorable draw in the sectional (which they host), with second-ranked Lanesville (21-1) on the other side of the draw. It looks like New Wash could be headed for at least a 14-win season, which would be its best since going 20-3 and winning a sectional title in 2012-13.
“I am thankful for the growth we have seen in our players from the beginning of the season up to this point,” New Wash head coach Kirsti Holloway said. “We have had to overcome adversity in various ways, just like most teams are experiencing, whether it be illness or injury so it has been good so see us improve despite all those obstacles.”
Last week, the Mustangs beat 15-win South Spencer (15-5) and led Class 4A Jeffersonville (9-7) at halftime at Matthews Gym.
“We have a really strong schedule that has hopefully prepared us to peak at just the right time,” Holloway said.
Kaidin James and Grace Ellison has gotten most of the headlines for New Wash, but Holloway said senior Emma DeCamp has been a difference-maker for the Mustangs.
“Emma DeCamp is a leader, both on and off the court, that doesn’t always get recognized because she doesn’t have outstanding statistics in any one category,” Holloway said. “She is typically one of the smallest players on the floor, but the effort she puts in day-in and day-out, whether practice or a game, exhibits the greatest fight I could ask for in any player. She’s the player who gets the 50/50 balls, takes the charge, boxes out every possession, is assigned the challenging defensive assignment, a true Glue Girl because I never wonder what Emma is going to bring to the team. She’s that consistent and rock solid.”
Holloway said she appreciates the support the Mustangs have gotten — and will continue to get in the sectional — from the New Washington community.
“We are thankful for the support of our Mustang fan base who come and encourage without fail,” she said. “New Washington is such a special place to me because we have so much alumni involvement in our program. Everyone wants to see each other be successful and there’s a camaraderie that is hard to find. There’s no place like Mustang Country.”
GAME OF THE NIGHT
SOUTH CENTRAL AT NEW WASHINGTON
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Records:
South Central 1-12, 1-3 SAC. The Rebels have lost six in a row.
New Washington 12-9, 2-2 SAC. The Mustangs have won seven of their last eight games.
• Coaches:
South Central — Lynne Thomas (4-46 in third season at South Central)
New Washington — Kirsti Holloway (67-92 in seventh season at New Wash)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
South Central — No. 377, No. 83 Class A
New Washington — No. 209, No. 24 Class A
• Most recent game:
South Central — Lost to Borden 53-41 (Jan. 18)
New Washington — Won at Crothersville 70-19 (Jan. 25)
• Last 20 years: South Central 24-14. New Washington has won the last five in the SAC rivaly.
• Most recent meeting: Jan. 23, 2021 — New Washington 66, at South Central 29.
• John Harrell prediction: New Washington 66, South Central 22.
• Sagarin projection: New Wash by 42.
• Outlook: South Central seems to be showing pretty rapid improvement, but New Wash is much better at this point.
• Greg’s pick: New Washington 55, South Central 23.
