BOYS’ HOOPS: Langford scores 42 to lead Bulldogs in Tip-Off Classic 97-59

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

INDIANAPOLIS – On Dec. 19 at Southport Fieldhouse, New Albany rebounded from a disappointing overtime loss to Floyd Central by rolling past defending Class 4A state runner-up Fort Wayne North in the FORUM Tip-Off Classic 97-59.

Bulldog senior Romeo Langford scored a game-high 42 points, shooting 14-of-22 from the floor, 6-of-9 from 3-point range and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-5 guard also recorded eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Fellow New Albany senior Sean East joined Langford in the solid floor-game department. The Bulldog point guard tallied 20 points as he made 8-of-16 field goals and 4-of-9 3-pointers. East also had a team-high seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Teammate Derrick Stevenson was the third Bulldog to reach double figures with 15 points. Stevenson connected on six of his seven field-goal tries and was 3-of-4 from behind the arc.

The Bulldogs (4-1) shot 37-of-61 from the field (60.7 percent) and 15-of-30 from 3-point range (50 percent). Standout forward Keion Brooks led the Legends (4-2) with 19 points.

SOIN PREPS STAR: Romeo Langford, New Albany – All-time great players know when to step up their games after a rough loss. Langford definitely did that against Fort Wayne North with another spectacular performance in front of a jam-packed crowd at Southport Fieldhouse with a good chunk of the fans chanting to Langford “IU, IU, IU, IU, IU.”

FORUM TIP-OFF CLASSIC

At Southport Fieldhouse

NEW ALBANY 97, FORT WAYNE NORTH 59

New Albany       19  23  24  31-97

FW North            9  14  17  19-59

New Albany (4-1): Romeo Langford 42, Sean East 20, Derrick Stevenson 15, Julien Hunter 8, Trey Hourigan 5, Anthony Irvin 5, Savion Southers 2, Cooper Biven 0, Chris Johnson 0, Darin Starks 0.

FW North (4-2): Keion Brooks 19, Austin Boucher 15, Brandan Johnson 11, Lucas Kroft 10, Coelone Davis 2, Jordan Moore 2, Jalen Causey 0, Jalen Lockett 0, Alijah Long 0.

3-point field goals: New Albany 15 (Langford 6, East 4, Stevenson 3, Hourigan 1, Irvin 1); FW North 3 (Boucher 3).