NEWARK – Coach Shannon McCants said it was a trap game.
His Newark Yellowjackets fell right into it, but quickly climbed out of the hole and rallied past Glasgow 58-48 on Tuesday.
The No. 7 Dragons were playing without their leading scorer, as point guard Devon Earl was out due to an illness. And No. 2 Newark was trying not to look ahead to Thursday’s showdown at No. 1 Mount Pleasant.
“That took a little bit away from the guys, just thinking, ‘Oh, their top point guard isn’t playing, it’s going to be easy,’” McCants said. “And then they jumped out on us.”
Glasgow built a 10-point lead after one quarter. But Chaz Knox took over in the second quarter, and Michael Drumgo-Sharpe dominated the third quarter as Newark (13-2) gradually took control on its home floor.
“It’s just all confidence,” Knox said. “Ten points down, we weren’t fazed or anything. We weren’t bothered by it. We knew we were going to come back.
“We weren’t even worried. We knew what was coming, and they knew what was coming.”
The Yellowjackets didn’t expect what was coming early. Devin McDowell, the Dragons’ 6-foot-6 junior center, had eight points and four rebounds in the first quarter as the Dragons pulled out to a 14-4 lead.
But McDowell went to the bench with two fouls in the second quarter, and Knox immediately took advantage. The 6-4 senior scored four straight baskets – three off of offensive rebounds – to pull Newark within 14-12.
“I need to bring energy for the team as a senior and as one of the big men on the team,” Knox said. “If our guards’ shots aren’t falling, then someone needs to step up to the plate and be able to take the lead.”
Knox had 11 points and eight rebounds in the quarter, but the Yellowjackets still trailed 24-23 at the half.
Drumgo-Sharpe took it from there. The 6-2 junior cut loose for 13 points in the third quarter, driving inside repeatedly after four 3-point attempts missed the mark in the first half.
“My shots weren’t falling like normal,” Drumgo-Sharpe said. “So I just figured I saw a lot of wood, take it to the rack. I’ve got one gear, and that’s go.”
He went coast-to-coast with a rebound, and Roland Byrd swiped an inbounds pass and went for a layup that pushed the Yellowjackets ahead 34-27.
Newark’s Michael Drumgo-Sharpe puts up a shot through a group of Glasgow defenders in the second half of Newark’s 58-48 win over Glasgow at Newark High School on Tuesday evening.
“His energy level is unmatched in the state,” McCants said of Drumgo-Sharpe. “I don’t know where he gets all his energy. He rebounds, he pushes the ball from end to end very quickly.”
With the clock ticking down, Drumgo-Sharpe faked a drive and pulled up for a buzzer-beating 3 to make it 41-33 after three quarters.
“He gets going, man,” McCants said. “I call him Microwave, like Vinnie Johnson back in the day. He scores in bunches once he gets hot.”
The Dragons (9-5) fought hard, but could get no closer than six in the final quarter. Dewitt Johnson scored 14, Lameen Carter added 13 and Darrien Fisher-Logan had six points and nine rebounds for Glasgow.
Drumgo-Sharpe had 22 points and nine rebounds, and Knox added 11 points and 10 boards for Newark. Now the Yellowjackets turn their attention to Mount Pleasant, which should be even more focused after a 55-51 loss at No. 5 Hodgson on Tuesday.
“Why did they have to lose right before they play us?” McCants said. “I think the guys, this is a good test for them. I think they will be up for it.
“We’ll see how our strategy works. It’s not going to be the end all, be all with this game, but I think we’ll be ready to play.”
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.
Newark’s Michael Drumgo-Sharpe puts up a shot around Glasgow’s Devin McDowell in the second half of Newark’s 58-48 win over Glasgow at Newark High School on Tuesday evening.
Glasgow’s Dewitt Johnson puts up a shot through Newark’s Tyreek Booker (left) and Michael Drumgo-Sharpe (right) in the first half of Newark’s 58-48 win over Glasgow at Newark High School on Tuesday evening.
Newark’s Michael Drumgo-Sharpe (No. 14) puts up a shot over Glasgow’s Devin McDowell (No. 15) in the second half of Newark’s 58-48 win over Glasgow at Newark High School on Tuesday evening.
Newark’s Chaz Knox (No. 40) reacts after making a basket through a foul in the second half of Newark’s 58-48 win over Glasgow at Newark High School on Tuesday evening.
Glasgow’s Lameen Carter pushes the ball through the legs of Newark’s Shannon McCants after losing the ball in the first half of Newark’s 58-48 win over Glasgow at Newark High School on Tuesday evening.