Newton's girls started slow but came on late to snatch a 56-45 win over M.L. King Friday.

The Lady Rams used a 21-point third quarter to turn a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead heading into the fourth and outscored the Lady Lions 15-11 over the game's final eight minutes.

"We played their game instead of ours' tonight. We played out of control and just didn't play our basketball until the second half," Newton coach Tiffani Johnson said. "Once we were able to play our game and do the things we work on, the game was under control."

Danyel Fourney led all scorers with 20 points. After a slow start to the season, Fourney has picked it up as of late and is averaging 17 points over her past five games.
"I think she's found her confidence and understands everything that we are asking her to do and she's putting it together and getting back to doing what we need her to do," Johnson said.

The Lions took a 16-7 lead into the second quarter before Newton inched closer with an 11-7 run. M.L. King led by two midway through the third before Newton closed out the period with a 13-3 run.

Newton turned the ball over 25 times but the Lions turned it over 27 times.

"Sometimes it's the personnel on the floor and sometimes its focus, but whatever it is, we need to fix it," Johnson said.

Dominique Moulton led M.L. King with 20 points and hit five 3-pointers.

Precious Price, Emili Russ and Mikola Burks each had eight points for the Lady Rams. Price and Burks each hit two from beyond the 3-point line.

"We're playing well but we have to get more consistent," Johnson said. "If I had to say whether we are ready for the tournament no I'd say no. But we'll get back to work and we'll be ready."