The Newberry Panthers turned on the defense early at Trenton on Thursday night.

And that was more than enough to keep the Panthers unbeaten in this young 2024-25 season.

Newberry scored the first 13 points of the game and led by as many as 32 as the Panthers improved to 7-0 with a 69-45 romp over Trenton.

Senior Jacob Green led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points as all 13 Panthers players who played in the game made it into the scoring column.

“We are really happy because this is an unselfish team, as you saw tonight,” Newberry coach Patrick Green said. “The guys were praising and celebrating their teammates scoring, and we had some guys score tonight who hadn’t played much to this point.”

Newberry took advantage of a depleted Trenton (5-4) squad playing without sophomore point guard Tyler Bullis, who is out 4-5 weeks with a hand injury. The Tigers leading scorer, sophomore Mason VunCannon played with the flu and, while he did lead Trenton with 15 points, most of those came late in the game when the result had long been decided.

Newberry jumped out to a 13-0 lead, pressuring Trenton up and down the court and scoring easily in transition. Senior Logan McCloud scored all six of his points on putbacks and the Panthers led 20-7 after the opening period.

“We try to pride ourselves on defense,” Patrick Green said. “As I tell the guys all the time defense in one thing we can always count on and we can’t slack off. Even if the shots aren’t falling, we have to keep our focus defensively.”

Newberry extended the lead to 31-7 halfway through the second period as Jacob Green scored seven straight points during the stretch. Green was also on the floor all first half picking up steals that led to more transition baskets.

Newberry led 37-19 at halftime but Trenton didn’t quit, coming out in the third quarter and cutting the deficit to 13 at one point. But an 11-0 run put the Panthers back in control. 

“Coach (Eric) Bullis does a great job with this team, they are tough,” Patrick Green said. “We found out before the game they would be without some key players, but they still played hard.”

Six of Newberry’s seven wins have come by double digits with the lone exception a 56-49 triumph at Santa Fe.

The Panthers return to action for an afternoon tilt Monday at P.K. Yonge while Trenton hosts rival Bell on Friday night.