LEXINGTON, KY. – Ben Weyer continued his dominant march through the state tournament and helped the Newport Central Catholic High School boys basketball team reach the semifinals for the first time since 1953.
Weyer, a 6-foot-6 senior who has signed with Bellarmine University, posted 27 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three blocks as the Thoroughbreds whipped Murray 75-54 on Friday in a quarterfinal of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.
A versatile player with the ability to score inside and outside, Weyer went outside Friday and nailed 5 of 6 3-point tries. The Thoroughbreds finished 11 of 18 from 3-point range.
“Ben’s our most consistent 3-point shooter … and he got hot today,” NewCath coach Ron Dawn said. “I think they even had a hand up on a couple of them, and he started feeling it.”
It was the second big game this week for Weyer, who posted 19 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in Wednesday’s 48-33 victory over Trinity in the first round.
Brennan Hall added 21 points as NewCath (30-4) – No. 9 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – advanced to face the Paul Dunbar-Bowling Green winner in Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal.
Ethan Clark scored 10 points to lead Murray (30-6), which shot just 29.1 percent (16 of 55).
NewCath hit 7 of 10 3-point tries in the first half to build a 38-17 halftime bulge. Weyer had 13 points and seven rebounds at the break.
“We found out good he is,” Murray coach Bart Flener said. “He’s the best player I feel like we’ve played all year. His versatility is outstanding.”
NewCath’s last trip to the state semifinals in 1953 ended with a 71-53 loss to eventual champion Lafayette.
“Just wanted to get to the final four one time,” Dawn said. “I’ve been coming since 1973 as a player or coach or spectator. You get to the final four, anything can happen.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 17 21 17 20 – 75
MURRAY 8 9 21 16 – 54
Newport Central Catholic (30-4) – Weyer 27, Hall 21, B Anderson 5, Moeves 5, E. Anderson 2, Pangallo 3, Ludwig 3, Neff 5, Wrobleski 1, Iles 2, Wurtz 1.
Murray (30-6) – Clark 10, Boone 8, Hornbuckle 3, English 9, Curtis 9, Foster 3, Flener 8, Duffy 2, Hilbrecht 2.
3-point goals – Weyer 5, Hall 2, B. Anderson, Pangallo, Ludwig, Neff; Clark 2, English 2, Flener.