Goodin's heroics save Philadelphia

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Jan. 21, 2004
PHILADELPHIA Newton and Philadelphia swapped a pair of hard-fought Division 5-2A basketball games Tuesday with the Newton girls winning 46-41 and the Philadelphia boys taking a 64-63 victory.
The boys' contest was begging for someone to step up big. Several people had their chances, but it was Philadelphia's Bobby Goodin that ended up the hero of the night.
Tied at 63, Goodin stole the ball near midcourt and was fouled going in for a layup with no time remaining. Goodin knocked down the first of two possible free throws to give the Tornadoes the one-point win.
Both teams went to 5-2 in league play behind Williams-Sullivan. Philadelphia improved to 15-5 overall, while Newton dropped to 13-11.
The game was nip and tuck throughout. Philadelphia's biggest lead was seven points late in the first half and early in the third quarter. Newton's biggest advantage was six points in the game's final minute.
That's where Goodin stepped up big. His 3-pointer with 36 seconds left pulled the Tornadoes to within 63-60. Another trey from Goodin tied the contest at 63 with 21 seconds showing.
After both teams turned the ball over, Goodin swiped a pass in the closing seconds, leading to his game-winning free throw.
Beamon finished with 25 points for the Tornadoes, including a pair of dunks, while Goodin hit four treys in tallying 23 points. Hunter had six points. The Tornadoes are still without Eric Lyons, who is slated to undergo an MRI for a knee injury today.
Newton got 21 points from Brandon Shelton, who also hit four treys. Cornelius Caraway had 16 points, Kolby Tillman had 11, Courtney Ruffin eight, and Jemario Walker seven.
Newton (girls) 46
Philadelphia 41
Another close battle was the order of the day in the opener. The game's biggest gap saw Newton holding a 39-33 lead with 3:36 to go.
Philadelphia led 13-10 after one quarter on a putback basket at the horn by Natonya McWilliams.
The Lady Tornadoes managed just two points in the second quarter as Newton took a 16-15 lead into halftime.
Newton was 11-of-26 at the free-throw line, while Philadelphia missed its only two attempts.
Newton (17-7 overall, 6-1 in 5-2A) got 12 points from Katera Evans, 10 each from Anderson and Karmarshea Jones, and six each from Thames and Chotsani Henderson.
Philadelphia (16-4, 6-1) got 11 points from Ashley Lowery, nine each from Danielle Cole and Dominetrix Hunter, and six from McWilliams.