Newton's boys finished returned home with a tournament championship thanks to a 54-50 win over Cedar Shoals in the final of the inaugural Wingslinger Holiday Bash at East Jackson Thursday.

 The Rams bounced back from the Alcovy last leading up to the holiday break with three consecutive wins.

 Derrick Henry led the way with 18 points en route to tournament MVP honors. Henry averaged 20 points per game in the Rams' three wins.

 "I though we played well most of the time. I thought we did a good job defensively and held a good team that scores 60 points per game," Newton coach Rick Rasmussen said. "Derrick came to play and deserved the MVP. He played well."

 For the third straight game, the Rams struggled from the charity stripe only to close out another win from the line down the stretch. Newton hit its last six free throws to keep its lead and Cedar Shoals was unable to get it any closer than four points.

"For some reason the free throw bug got us a bit. I don't know why – maybe a vacation from free throw shooting," Rasmussen said. "Sometimes you get three games in a row and you don't get to practice much."