The Newman school vs Cushing academy boys varsity basketball
BOSTON, Mass. — Newman coach Jackson Johnson can immediately recall the score the last time Newman and Cushing faced off at TD Garden: 61-57 in favor of Cushing last January. The top-ranked Cardinals didn't need to drum up motivation for Sunday's marquee contest of the Andrew Lawson Invitational. In a No. 1 vs. No. 2 NEPSAC showdown, they flipped the script, taking control in the first half and holding off Cushing's late surge to win, 79-71. "James (Cormier, Cushing coach) is an unbelievable coach, so from a selfish perspective, it tests my ability," Johnson said. "And we didn't have to be crazy motivated from the players' perspective because they wanted it. You could feel it all week — they wanted this game." After Cushing got hot early, Newman (14-1) took control in the first half with 11 team 3-pointers and entered the break up 48-35. The Penguins (13-3) clawed back by asserting themselves in the paint and getting to the free-throw line, coming as close as 74-71 before running out of possessions. Here are five standouts from the showdown.
