NEWTON – When Newton North needed him most, Jose Padilla was there to deliver.
Padilla scored 16 points while putting on a superb defensive performance to lead No. 7 Newton North to a 52-38 win over No. 10 Lynn English in the Division 1 Round of 16 on Tuesday night at Newton North High School.
The Tigers (19-5) advance to play Lawrence in the Division 1 state quarterfinal.
“What else can you say about Jose Padilla? Four-year player who has it all,” Newton North coach Paul Connolly said. “Jose rushed it early, but I don’t know how many guys out there that are big-time players who can score and are willing to take charges. Terrific both ways.”
Lynn English held a 21-17 lead at the break and grabbed its largest lead, 27-20, midway through the third quarter on a layup by Warren Keel. Padilla, however, came to life as the senior guard scored eight straight points to even the game 28-28.
Moments later, Tyler Randall splashed two three-pointers to cap off a 14-3 run and put Newton North on top 34-30. Defensively, the Tigers took control with Will Davis preventing Lynn English from getting opportunities around the basket while Padilla helped spearhead dribble penetration.
Padilla continued to control the game on the offensive end as he finished through contact to stretch the Tigers’ lead to seven and then found Davis in transition for a three-pointer to give Newton North a 42-34 advantage with five minutes remaining. Two free throws from Padilla and a basket by Davis over the top put Lynn English firmly out of reach. The Bulldogs netted just four field goals over the final 12 minutes.
“They’re really good. They can score in the 90s,” Connolly said. “We were getting shots in the first half but we just missed them. In the second half we settled down and played our game.”
The two sides struggled to gain momentum at the offensive end of the floor in the opening stanza with the Tigers grabbing a 9-8 lead after one. Lynn English (20-2) jumped in front in the second as Keel and Tyrese Melo Garcia each poured in a pair of baskets to help the Bulldogs take a 21-17 lead into the half.