COLONY — Following a heartbreaking loss in a Kansas Class 1A Substate Tournament championship game in March, Crest High head coach Travis Hermreck talked about his two seniors — Bryan Newton and Zach Stinnett.
He said the two “grew up” during the 2009-2010 season and became the “go-to guys” on the team. Newton and Stinnett are the two players Hermreck has coached all four years.
Newton took another step on his own last week when he signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Neosho County Community College. Newton, a three-time All-Three Rivers League first team selection, goes to Chanute to help the Panthers next year.
“Neosho County is the right place for me. I like their coaching staff and I really like the school,” Newton said.
According to what NCCC head coach Jeremy Coombs said, Newton is the right player at the right time for the Panthers.
“We lost our point guards to graduation. Bryan fits our program very well,” Coombs said. “We knew he had all the skills we needed on the court but throughout the recruitment process, we found out what a wonderful person he is.”
Newton is a 6-1 guard who led the Lancers in points with 375 as a senior. He finished sixth on the Crest High career-point list with 895 points.
Newton was also the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 8.56 a game. He also led them in assists, 3.35 per game, plus had 2.3 steals a game, which was second.
Newton shot 50 percent from the field from two-point range and was 25 percent from three-point range. He shot 64.5 percent from the free-throw line.
“Bryan sees the floor well and passes the ball. He is unselfish with the ball and makes his teammates better. Those are things we’re looking for in a point guard plus leadership,”said Coombs, who just finished his third season as Panther head coach.
“Bryan thinks on the court a couple steps ahead. He has quickness and handles the ball very well.”
Neosho County’s Panthers were 12-6 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play, finishing third. They went 20-10 overall.
Newton finished third in career assists with 279 at Crest. He is fourth on the career rebound list with 544 and fourth in career steals with 181.
Newton was a unanimous selection to the Three Rivers League first-team as a senior. He earned first-team honors the previous two years.
He was part of two consecutive trips to the Kansas Class 1A state tournament — finishing third his sophomore year. The Lancers had an undefeated run through the 2008-2009 regular season then were defeated in the first round of the state tournament.
In Newton’s four years on the basketball court for CHS, the Lancers have compiled an 84-15 record. The Lancers won their third straight TRL championship this past season.
Newton is undecided on a college major. He is the son of Keela Newton of Colony.
Crest’s Newton to play for NCCC
