ASHVILLE, Ohio -- The Newark Wildcats headed to Ashville tonight to take on Teays Valley in a non-conference matchup.

Despite a bit of a slow start, the Wildcats dominated the final three quarters to cruise to a 66-29 victory behind 24 points from senior wing Emma Shumate.

Both teams struggled on the offensive end of the floor to start the game, however Newark jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and despite leading by just five at the end of the first, never once trailed the entire night. 

Things picked up for the Wildcats in the second quarter as they turned up the tempo and defensive intensity, extending their full court press to frustrate Teays Valley and turn them over a handful of times, quickly extending their lead to 33-12 at the half. 

Newark continued to dominate in the second half of the game highlighted by their impressive ball movement and selflessness on offense. They had no problems at all in the final 16 minutes, rolling to the finish line of their fourth win.

Shumate led the 4-0 Wildcats with 24 points followed by Peyton Lunsford with 11 and Abby Derwacter with 8. The Vikings were led by junior guard Ashley DeWeese with 12. 

Let’s take a look at some of tonight’s top performers.

Emma Shumate (G / Newark / 2021) - The West Virginia signee can be described in two words: elite competitor. Shumate can do anything she wants on the offensive end of the floor whether that’s draining threes or taking the ball to the hoop. Her length makes her extremely effective on defense, helping to cause multiple ten-second violations. Shumate’s combination of size, skill and versatility make her one of the deadliest two-way players in the state and a mismatch nightmare for anyone in front of her. If you try to catch any games this season, you HAVE to watch Emma and the Wildcats.

Abby Derwacter (C / Newark / 2021) - Derwacter is one of the only true centers we have seen this season. She lives between the short corner and the block, finishing well through contact. The high-low game between her and Shumate is fun to watch and hard to guard. She moves well without the ball and has active hands on defense. Newark ran a few sets designed for Derwacter throughout the game and she showed off her discipline and high IQ to execute them effectively for easy scores.

Peyton Lunsford (G / Newark / 2021) - Lunsford brings a different, yet necessary type of energy for Newark. The Charleston commit is one of the most active and tenacious defenders for the Wildcats, causing turnovers that lead to transition points. Her combination of lateral quickness and activity on that end of the floor really allow her to excel on the defensive perimeter. She has great ball handling skill, distributes the ball well, and sets her teammates up to score and scores in a variety of ways. When you have someone as skilled as Lunsford running the show, your offense always seems to be in rhythm.

Ashley DeWeese (G / Teays Valley / 2022) - DeWeese was a spark for the Vikings tonight. She has a smooth outside shot, knocking down two three pointers. She handled the ball well under pressure and was able to create offense when Newark was dominating defensively. We liked her ability to get by defenders off the dribble with her quickness and her instincts to distribute to teammates when attracting helpside defense.