Games 65 & 66 - Newton HS at Rockdale HS

January 8 at Cleveland Stroud Gymnasium in Conyers, GA
girls - 65
boys - 66

Tonight's boys nightcap was one of the best games we've seen so far at 200 Game Season, regardless of level of competition.

That isn't easy for me to say considering about 90% of the time I'd rather have a koala bear chew off one of my toes than watch high school basketball.

Honestly, the percentage is closer to about 88%, but all it really takes to produce a good high school basketball game is great guard play, and there was plenty of that on Friday:

- Newton freshman Ashton Hagans scored a career-high 28 points, including having a hand in 10 of the Rams' 14 overtime points in a 99-94 victory. Hagans already has a collegiate offer from the University of Georgia.

Newton coach Rick Rasmussen called the 6-3 guard one of the best freshmen in the state of Georgia, and it's hard to argue with that statement after a performance like this one. Hagans needs to develop a jump shot, because right now he's a drive & shoot-or-pass player on the offensive end, but he's got 3 1/2 YEARS to do that, and he's already a very good defender. Amazing talent.

- His teammate, J.D. Notae, added 27 points. The junior was throwing up in the locker room at halftime, didn't accompany the team to the bench for the third quarter, then proceeded to score seven straight Newton points in the third.

- Rockdale's Jalen Jordan was outstanding as well, pouring in a game-high 32 points. Jordan, a senior, doesn't have any official collegiate offers, but Clayton State was in attendance for this one and there's no doubt he'll make a Division II or III school very happy.