The 2024-2025 boys basketball season was looked forward to with a sense of anticipation and self-improvement. The team is led by coaches Ben Page, Keith Walter, Steve Watts, and Jeff Zaring, as well as captains senior Tyler Gardner and sophomore Landon Zaring.
Newport scrimmaged Harrisburg Academy, Harrisburg Christian, and Lancaster County Christian to prepare for future matchups later in December.
The boys began their regular season at the J.T. Kuhn Memorial Tip-Off Tournament at Big Spring High School against Kutztown Area. They would suffer a devastating 20-63 defeat to begin their season but not end their hopes. Sophomore Tai Caudle led scoring by putting up ten points against the Cougars. Sophomore Jameson Cummins and Gardner each had four points while Zaring had two. Zaring, reproving his rebounding ability, was able to capture six rebounds; one offensively and the other five defensively.
In the consolation game of the tournament, the Buffaloes fell 33-60 to the York County School of Technology, a Class A vs. Class 6A matchup. Caudle once again led the scoring with eight points, followed by Gardner’s seven points, sophomore Henry Barlup’s six points, Zaring’s five points, senior Evan Fleisher’s three points, and both sophomore Mason Bitting and freshman John Mayeresky’s two points each. Mayeresky took the lead with seven rebounds, two offensively and five defensively.
Dec. 10 started league play for the team with a continued loss away game at Juniata that ended 25-63. Zaring dropped 13 points, Gardner had nine points, and Mayeresky had another three points. Zaring also had eight rebounds that night, with four being offensive and the other four being defensive to make him the rebounds leader.
Dec. 13th, the first home game of the season, was played and observed for Alumni Night vs. East Juniata, where past coaches, players, and managers were recognized for their achievements. This game ended with a tense and close 44-46 loss to the Tigers. Zaring ended the game with 19 points, and other players such as Caudle, Gardner, Cummins, Barlup, and Mayeresky also scored. Mayeresky soared with 15 rebounds, seven above the runner-up rebounder.
Next on the schedule was an away game at Susquenita on Dec. 16. Newport’s scoring power shifted to Gardner, who had 14 points. Zaring paired up for another ten rebounds this game to help out with the team’s overall 32. The final score was 28-63, Blackhawk’s favor.
On the road again, Newport played Saint Joseph’s Catholic on Dec. 19 and lost by a closer score, 37-57. Gardner continued his reign with 11 points, and Cummins scored nine to trail. Cummins led the rebounding column with eight; meanwhile, Mayeresky had seven.
To gear up for the upcoming Perry County tournament, the team traveled once again up to Midd-West on Dec. 21. Zaring came back to capture ten points, Fleisher had six points, Cummins had three, Gardner and Bitting equal with two, and Barlup with a single point. Zaring caught two offensive and seven defensive rebounds. Newport lost 24-59.
Ending December out was the Perry County Boys Basketball tournament at Susquenita on Dec. 27-28.
In the semifinal vs. West Perry on Dec. 27, the Buffaloes fell to the Mustangs 31-55. Zaring took control of the offense for this playoff game by scoring 12 points. Barlup, Cummins, Bitting, and Fleisher all had four points. Zaring and Mayeresky tied for five rebounds each.
Next, the consolation game against Greenwood resulted in a 44-53 loss. Gardner rounded out this game with his second-highest point total in a game; 16 points. Other players averaged between two to eight points. Zaring grabbed 14 rebounds, over one-third of the 34 rebounds the team managed to collect. Zaring also had six blocks on defense.
The team ended December with zero wins and nine losses.
Beginning the new year off, the Buffaloes landed a win on Jan. 7 at Juniata Christian School, 58-18, to start 2025 positively. They went back to Tri-Valley League play on Jan. 9 at Line Mountain to which they fell to the Eagles, 33-65.
Newport returned home on Jan. 14 to play the Upper Dauphin Area Trojans where they trailed 46-55 as the final buzzer went off. Another home game followed on Jan. 14 versus Greenwood which resulted in a 40-50 loss to the Wildcats.
Newport went back on the road on Jan. 17 to play the other Wildcats of Halifax Area to which they came up short, 40-74. Continuing TVL play, they hosted Juniata on Jan. 20 with a final score of 37-50. They continued to fall at East Juniata on Jan. 24, 55-63, and versus Millersburg Area on Jan. 27, 36-55.
The Buffaloes took on two more extremely tough games with resilience. On Jan. 30, Newport played Saint Joseph’s Catholic which resulted in the Wolfpack’s favor, 60-52. At home on Jan. 31 in the Pink Out Four Diamonds game, Newport fell behind 39-84 to the powerful Class A York Country Day.
Newport’s final three games lay in February: Feb. 4 at Greenwood, Feb. 7 at Covenant Christian, and Feb. 10 vs. Belleville Mennonite. Greenwood’s third matchup ended in another but final win, 56-36. The Covenant Christian Eagles trailed for the majority of the game but sailed past Newport to take a 52-43 win.
Despite the heavy losing streak, Newport finalized their season against Belleville Mennonite in an overtime fashion, 53-50.
Newport’s overall record was 2-20 and finished 0-13 in the Tri-Valley League. The team averaged around 40.76 points per game over their 856 total points scored this season.
