Newton Second at LIC Girls Tournament

Newton High School fell in the championship game of the Little Illini Conference Girls Basketball Tournament Thursday evening to Marshall, 51-40.

The Eagles held a 13-11 opening quarter lead and led 26-21 at halftime. Marshall started its comeback bid with a 9-7 third quarter run then blasted out a 21-7 final period run for the victory.

Grooms led Marshall with 21 points while Kuhn chipped in with 10. Newton was led by Megan Jansen with 13 and Carly Niebrugge with 11. Morgan Swingler had six rebounds. Newton drops to 16-8 on the season and is back in action Monday at Lawrenceville.

In the third-place game, Olney claimed a 52-38 victory over Flora.

LIC Tournament Championship

MARSHALL (51)

Grooms 7-7 -- 21, Kuhn 4-2 -- 10, Keim 2-2 -- 8, Thompson 3-1 -- 8, Bishop 1-2 -- 4. TOTALS 17 FT, 14 FT.

NEWTON (40)

Jansen 5-3 -- 13, Niebrugge 5-0 -- 11, Swingler 3-0 -- 8, Cartright 2-2 -- 6, Bierman 1-0 -- 2. TOTALS 16 FT, 5 FT.

Marshall          11    10    9    21    --    51

Newton           13    13    7      7    --    40

3-point FG -- Marshall 3 (Keim 2, Thompson 1), Newton 3 (Niebrugge 1, Swingler 2).