DECATUR — While the Christmas parade drew much of the attention on East Central’s campus Friday night, the real show occurred in the gym. 

The Newton Lady Tigers girls basketball team (6-0) struggled for much of the first half versus Laurel and didn’t even have a lead until the fourth quarter before securing a 46-43 win in thrilling fashion.

Laurel started strongly with a 3 off the backboard on the first possession, but Newton responded quickly with a 3 of its own. This was a common theme in the first quarter, as one team would take back the momentum when the other team gained it.

Laurel led 8-5 at the end of the opening frame and continued to stretch its lead in the second quarter. The Lady Tornadoes had a 20-5 advantage after a 3 from the center drew the crowd into a frenzy. Zy Shields made a floater right before the half to quiet the crowd and make the score 24-11 at intermission. 

Many in the crowd believed the game was over at the half, but not the Lady Tigers. They came out strong after the break with a 6-0 run led by Myja McNichols. She made the score 24-17 with five minutes left in the third, and Nia McCalphia made a huge 3 to draw the game within one point for Newton. Laurel responded with an and-1 with a minute left. Laurel clung to a five-point lead at the end of the third, 39-34.

The fourth quarter belonged to McCalphia and McNichols, with the duo scoring 10 of Newton’s 12 in the final frame. McCalphia hit a jumper to open the quarter and cut the lead to two, and she followed with a 3 with four minutes left to take the first lead of the game for the Lady Tigers. 

The game then got more intense. Newton coach Perry Fletcher was called for a technical foul after a perceived missed pushoff call by the Lady Tornadoes, but Laurel missed both free throws. Laurel took the lead back 42-41, but McNichols answered with the game-winning layup with one minute remaining. The Lady Tigers would then hold onto the lead and win 46-43.  

McCalphia led the Tigers with 16 points, and McNichols chipped in 13. 

“I didn’t think we were fighting; I told them we needed to go out there and fight,” Fletcher said at halftime. 

His team definitely fought in the second half, outscoring Laurel by 16.  

Newton returns to action Dec. 5 at Enterprise-Lincoln.