AUSTIN — The winning streak is over, but the New Washington boys’ basketball team still managed to squeeze a bit more history out of its perfect start on Monday.

The day began with a 57-41 victory over Crothersville that moved the Mustangs to 7-0 — clinching the team’s best start since the 1993-94 season — but ended on a bittersweet note. A disastrous second quarter put New Wash in a double-digit hole and then a late rally came up short in a 64-54 loss to host Austin in the final game of the North pool of the Christian Academy of Indiana Holiday Tournament.

The Mustangs’ first loss also knocked them out of the championship game of the three-day event, as they will face Southern Athletic Conference rival Henryville for third place in the eight-team field at Christian Academy at 5 p.m. today.

Instead, Austin (8-1) won its eighth straight contest to finish 3-0 in the pool and will face Rock Creek Christian, the South pool champion, for the tourney crown following the clash between the Hornets and Mustangs.

“They’ve worked their tails off to be in the position that we’re in,” said New Wash coach Jonathan May about his team’s first taste of defeat. “When you work that hard and fail, it hurts. Last year, it didn’t bother us so much when we lost. This year, we’re very bothered by it.”

The Mustangs (7-1) can take solace in the fact that it didn’t have to be that way.

Down by 12 at halftime and facing a 14-point deficit midway through the third quarter, New Wash wasn’t inclined to let its unblemished start go easily.

A pull-up 3-pointer by Vincent Minton and a jumper from Devin Freels quickly made it a 40-33 game with nearly three minutes left in the third period. It could have gotten even closer, as the Mustangs held the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the quarter, but failed to convert on eight consecutive offensive trips.

That changed early in the fourth, when a driving score by Freels, a layup from Minton and a basket from Dustin Hobbs capped an 11-0 run and made it 40-39.

Austin, suddenly in for a dogfight, reclaimed a six-point margin before two Mustang trips resulted in two 3s from Dustin Bowman, and New Wash appeared to tie the score on a hook by Chris Radford. The basket was waived off when Radford was called for traveling prior to the shot.

That set up what may have finally doomed the Mustangs for good.

With Austin clinging to a 53-50 edge, Minton broke lose down the middle with teammates on each wing. He pulled up for a 7-foot jumper before deciding to pass in the air, instead flipping the ball out of bounds for a costly turnover.

The Eagles capitalized with two free throws from Ben Raichel, turning what would have been a one-point edge into a five-point cushion with one minute left to play. From there, Austin went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line to seal it.

“Overall, he’s been our most consistent player,” said May of Minton, who was held to a season-low seven points to go with 12 rebounds. “He’s not worried about statistics or numbers of any kind, except for losses. The loss is what will bother him.”

Minton wasn’t the only Mustang to struggle from the floor, as New Wash hit just 4-of-21 from 3-point range and converted just 7-of-22 field-goal attempts (31 percent) in the opening half.

Freels kept his team within striking distance over the first 16 minutes, breaking a four-minute New Wash scoring drought with a key 3 that also ended an 11-2 Eagle run that spanned the majority of the second quarter.

Austin was likewise from the field early on and trailed for much of the first period, managing to tie things at 11 on a pair of foul shots from Dwayne Rice.

From there, the Eagles exploded, getting 3s from Brad Deaton and Zach Edwards before a potential four-point play by Deaton, though he missed the free throw. Raichel then appeared to hit another trey, but it was later changed to a two because his foot was on the line.

By the time Edwards delivered a three-point play and hit the Eagles’ fourth trey of the second quarter, the lead had ballooned to 30-18.

Freels had a game-high 21 points to lead New Wash, while Radford had 10 points.

Rice had 18 points to pace Austin, while Edwards had 16 and a team-high five rebounds.

“There are two ways we can respond,” said May. “We can pout about it and let (the loss) affect our next game, or we can use it as motivation.”



NEW WASHINGTON 11 9 13 21—54

AUSTIN 11 21 8 24—64

New Washington (7-1) — Minton 7, Freels 21, Bowman 6, Radford 10, Jones 6, Krohn 0, Wiggam 0, Hobbs 4.

Austin (8-1) — Raichel 11, Rice 18, Winchester 5, Rigel 6, Deaton 6, Edwards 16, Densford 2.

Three-point field goals — New Washington 4 (Bowman 2, Minton, Freels); Austin 6 (Edwards 3, Deaton 2, Rice).

Rebounds — New Washington 26 (Minton 12); Austin 27 (Edwards 5).

Turnovers — New Washington 12, Austin 12.



NEW WASHINGTON 13 15 11 18—57

CROTHERSVILLE 12 9 7 13—41

New Washington (7-0) — Minton 15, Freels 12, Wiggam 8, Hobbs 7, Bowman 7, Krohn 5, Radford 2, Jones 3, Hughes 0.

Crothersville (1-7) — Hensley 17, Brasher 14, Steinbach 6, Elliot 2, Lemen 1, Martin 1.

Three-point field goals — New Washington 4 (Minton 2, Bowman, Krohn); Crothersville 2 (Hensley 2).