1972 Newton County p4
From 8-30-14
With the 1972 regular season completed, the Rams' record stood at 21-1, but all of our true fans knew that the "real season" was about to start! When NCHS went to Forest Park in the last regular-season game & ended the Panthers' 64-game home court winning steak 69-65, it assured the Rams of being top-seeded for the Region 6AAA tournament!
The Region Tournament featured 3 teams that hat been in the state's Top 10 poll all season long. The crowds mirrored the '71 tourney, when seats were usually gone by the first game of the evening, and no one else was allowed entrance until a like number left the gym! In the Rams' opening game, they rolled over Jonesboro High, 93-49, as the Price brothers led the way. Kevin's 21 pts. & younger brother, Scott, had 18 pts. & 16 rebounds. Three other NCHS players were in double-figures, with Donnie Freeman's 17 pts., Carl Stevenson's 12 pts., & Greg Christian's 11 pts. After another happy meal at Shoney's, the talk was on "the game of the year", the one which would put us in the Region finals (& one of the highly-coveted 2 spots in the State Tournament)! After an exciting day at school, and a pep-rally send-off, the when the team entered the Morrow gym, the Newton fans welcomed them with a standing ovation! (One of the players described the welcome as "something that never gets old & sends chills up & down your spine!") By halftime of the semi-final game vs. Griffin, the game was just about settled, with the final score of 93-73. The Price brothers "showed off" their talents, once again, as Scott scored 20 pts.& Kevin 19 pts. Freeman added 18 pts., & for the 2nd straight game, & sophomore Carl Stevenson scored 12 pts. During our after-game meal, it was a surprise to the team when word reached us that the 21-1, & state-ranked Price team, had been eliminated, & it would be the Forest Park Panthers we would be facing for the Region Championship! The championship game proved that this Newton team was one of the best that the Rams had put together in the school's history. They ran roughshod over the Panthers 84-65 for their 5th straight Region title! The way was led by Freeman's 26-pts, Kevin's 20 pts-17 reb., Scott's 18 pts-13 reb, & Neal Dickerson's 15 pts. The after-game ceremony recognized the Price brothers & Freeman as All-Region, & Kevin Price (with his 60 pts. & 33 reb.) was recognized with the region MVP award! ---- Now, on to the State Tournament!!
