Comets unable to shoot past Bulldogs this time

Newman shot a dismal 13 percent in the first half and 22 percent overall in a 44-28 nonconference loss at Aquin. The Comets were just 3-for-24 in the first half, including 1-of-10 from 3-point range. They wound up 11-for-51 and 4-of-16 from 3.

Newman (10-3) managed just four points in the first quarter and three in the second, trailing 25-7 at the break.

"We didn't do anything right," said Kyle Moore, who led the Comets with eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. "We didn't run our offense. We rushed shots. It seemed like we were just chucking up 3 after 3. To only score 28 points in a high school basketball game, that's pretty pathetic."

Newman's defense kept it close early, as the Comets trailed 9-4 after one quarter, getting just a bucket from Moore at the 6:32 mark and a rebound putback by Lucas Terveer (5 points) at the 2:32 mark.

Aquin (9-1) all but put the game away in the second quarter, outscoring Newman 16-3. Nate Terveer provided the Comets' only points with a 3 at the 6:34 mark.

"They came out and smacked us in the face," Moore said. "They had a chip on their shoulder from last year, and we didn't answer. I don't think we were ready tonight."

"We held them to 44 points. Most nights that gets us a win," said Newman's A.J. Sharp, who scored seven points on 3-of-13 shooting. "They switch on everything, so it's hard for us to get our ball reversal and keep our offense moving. That really restricted us. We didn't know what to do then."

The Comets whittled the margin to 12 twice in the third quarter but could get any closer.

"We haven't shot that bad since supersectionals [last season]," Newman coach Ray Sharp said. "There were only four fouls called in the first half. That shows that we weren't aggressive attacking the rim. We had the advantage inside, and we had to take advantage of that."