Boys Basketball: Seniors lead Red Wing to victory

Senior Joel Newman scored 32 points in his final regular season home game with the Red Wing boys basketball team and senior Ryan Parr hit two big free throws in the final minute to give the Wingers a 56-51 victory against Academy of Holy Angels Tuesday in Red Wing.

Newman scored 24 of his points in the first half and finished with seven rebounds. He hit 6 of 8 3-pointers before halftime.

“He made some tough shots but he got some good looks too,” Red Wing head coach Doug Toivonen said. “Hats off to Joel, he really saved us in the first half.”

However, it was Parr’s free throws with 20 seconds left and block on the ensuing defensive possession that sealed the Wingers’ fifth home victory in the past six home games. Red Wing (10-15, 5-8 Missota) led 53-51 when Parr, a 28.5 percent free-throw shooter this season, stepped to the line and sank both ends of a 1-and-1.

“I just thought, ‘I’m going to make it,’” Parr said. “You got to have a little confidence.”

Parr finished with five points, seven rebounds and six blocks. Toivonen said he told Parr before the game to attack rebounds and protect the rim even if it meant fouling out.

“Parr was unbelievable,” Toivonen said. “He played aggressive … he was awesome tonight.”

Junior Ryan Boldt had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win.

Sam Keis led Holy Angels with 12 points. Parker Bredow added nine points and 11 rebounds.

Newman took little time to heat up, hitting two 3-pointers to put the Wingers ahead 6-2 less than four minutes into the game. He continued to pour it on as Red Wing extended the lead to 21-14 with another Newman 3-pointer at 7:40. But Holy Angels responded with a 12-0 run to go up 26-21 with three minutes left in the half.

Again, Newman brought the Wingers back with five points in the last 1:35 before halftime and Boldt made a free throw with 4.5 seconds left to put Red Wing up 29-28 at the break. Newman and Boldt had all of the Wingers’ points in the opening half.

The pace of the game slowed considerably in the second half as both teams clamped down defensively. Red Wing kept Holy Angels to one field goal in the first 17 possessions of the second half and built a 38-28 lead with 12:17 remaining.

But the Wingers spent too much time stationary on offense and waiting for Newman to create. During the middle of the second half Holy Angels held them scoreless for more than four minutes. A 3-pointer and a 3-point play by Holy Angels cut the lead to two at 41-39 with 8:39 remaining.

“Newman got a couple open looks but they didn’t fall,” Doug Toivonen said. “It took guys a little while to get going in the second half.”

Holy Angels tied the game at 41 a short time later and grabbed its first lead of the second half at 45-43 on a steal and layup with 5:52 left in regulation.

Red Wing looked frazzled but Parr and Newman scored to tie the game at 47-47 before sophomore Isaac Toivonen knocked down a crucial 3-pointer to give the Wingers a 50-47 lead at 3:19 they never gave back.

“A lot of other guys stepped up in the second half and that was huge for us,” Newman said.

It was a fitting end for Newman on senior night. He leads the team in scoring at 17.68 points per game and continues to be a catalyst for Red Wing’s offense. He also leads the team with 70 assists.

Newman said the team talked about needing the win in order to avoid a sure road trip for the first round of Section 1AAA playoffs and the Wingers hope Tuesday’s win over Holy Angels, ranked 10th in the QRF, will help their cause.

“It wasn’t on our minds during the game but we’re definitely happy to get a win,” he said. “It leaves us with a lot of momentum.”

Red Wing finishes the regular season against Farmington Friday in Farmington.

Tags: boys basketball, red wing, sports, prep