Fanning the flames: Azyah Newson-Cole pushes Lincoln-Way Central to be ‘best that we can be’ in wild OT win over East.

During her varsity career, Lincoln-Way Central senior Azyah Newson-Cole has made very clear her feelings about her teammates.

She’s their biggest fan.

“I love these girls like they’re my family,” Newson-Cole said. “This season, I want to go out with a bang and give them my all.”

In Tuesday’s game against host Lincoln-Way East, Newson-Cole gave some of them some pointed words during a very sloppy first half. At halftime, she changed the approach.

“I just had to talk with Gracen (Gehrke) and Gianna (Amadio),” Newson-Cole said. “Sometimes, I can be a little heated and say some things.

“They are the youngest on the team. I just wanted to let them know that I still loved them and still believed in them.”

All three played key roles in the Knights’ wild 59-56 overtime win in a SouthWest Suburban Conference crossover.

Keira Hunt scored 19 points for Lincoln-Way Central (7-3). Newson-Cole added 16 points, Amadio had 11 points and six steals and Gehrke contributed nine points.

Hayven Smith led Lincoln-Way East (5-2) with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Lana Kerley scored 18 points, while Lilly Dockemeyer had 10.

The first hero for the Knights was Gehrke.

They trailed 51-48 with time running out in regulation when the junior guard caught a pass from Annalina Nelson and nailed a 3-point buzzer-beater from the top of the key.

“Honestly, the play was to get the ball to Azyah,” Gehrke said. “But they were double-teaming Azyah, so Annalina had the ball and was dribbling.

“I saw my girl kind of leave me for a split second, so I ran up to the top and she threw the ball to me. I got set as quick as I could and I shot it. When it went in, I was in disbelief.”

Overtime was Azyah’s time.

Lincoln-Way East led 54-53 with 1:57 remaining when the IUPUI recruit drew a foul and hit both free throws.

On her next chance, Newson-Cole drove on the 6-foot-5 Smith and converted a layup. She also scored the final two points on a pair of free throws with six seconds left.

“I didn’t want to let my team down,” Newson-Cole said. “I know they have a lot of trust in me and I have a lot of trust in them. When I got that last layup, it was like a do-or-die with me.

“I either make the shot or I don’t. But I knew with the confidence I have, nine times out of 10, the shot is going to go in.”

They were big overtime shots, to be sure. But her leadership at halftime was perhaps even more critical.

Daily Southtown

Twice-weekly

News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday

The Knights trailed by as many as 18 points during the first half. Missed 3-pointers were a big culprit, as was a sluggish defense.

Lincoln-Way Central coach Dave Campanile sensed the tension. He stood by and watched Newson-Cole work her leadership abilities at halftime.

“There were times out there they were getting a little snippy on each other in the first half,” Campanile said. “And she pulled people together.

“Azyah had two other girls with her in the hallway, arms around them. She was like, ‘Hey, we’ve got this. Let’s stay together. I’m sorry, you’re sorry. Let’s move on.’ Her confidence is through the roof to handle a situation like that.”

Gehrke, for one, was a grateful participant.

“It really meant that she cared about us,” Gehrke said. “There are a lot of people who have a teammate that’s just here to play with them. They’re only friends with them because they’re on the same team.

“Azyah genuinely cares about all of us, and she cares about making all of us the best that we can be.”