Published: February 21, 2009 02:07 am      

BASKETBALL: Jeff seniors go out with bang on Senior Night, 83-57

JEFFERSONVILLE — In their final game at Johnson Arena, three Jeffersonville seniors went out like heroes, leading the Red Devils to an 83-57 win over Scottsburg on Friday night.

All three seniors scored at least nine points, including Edward Wright-Baker, who had a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds as Jeff improved to 14-4 with its ninth win in 10 games.

“The seniors have been playing hard all year because we know this is our last chance,” Wright-Baker said. “We didn’t want to lose this game.”

Early on, there was some doubt.

Neither team led by more than three points — Jeff at 5-2 after a Kegan Clark steal that led to a 3-point play — in the first period. Evan Maschmeyer hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Red Devils an 18-16 lead at the end of the first period.

Jeff turned the ball over seven times in the first period. An understandable lack of focus, Jeff coach Tim LaGrange said.

“We had a lot of distractions today (with Senior Night),” the coach explained. “It was predictable. The coaching staff joked before the game about how long it would take to have our first turnover.”

Despite a Clark-led 8-0 run late in the second period, the Devils led just 38-35 as Scottsburg’s Matt Bridgewater scored on a three-point play off of his own steal with 2.8 seconds remaining in the half. Clark had four points and an assist during the eight-point run, which gave Jeff a 30-24 lead. But the Warriors went on an 11-6 run to end the second period.

The third quarter was a different story, as Wright-Baker and fellow senior Sean Fisher each hit 3-pointers to open the half.

After an Anthony Humes 3-pointer cut Jeff’s lead back to 48-40, Jeff senior Tevin Ewing took over. He scored six points and had two assists and two steals during the Red Devils’ back-breaking 15-7 run to end the third quarter, giving Jeff its biggest advantage of the night, 63-47.

“I felt like we had something to prove,” Ewing said. “We weren’t going to lose this game. It’s about the team, not just about the seniors.”

“We did a nice job of settling down and we played a nice second half,” LaGrange said.

Scottsburg’s first-year coach Brent Keck thought the Red Devils were ready to play in the second half.

“Jeff came out and did a great job in the third quarter,” he said. “They came out and set the tone for the second half.”

In the fourth quarter, junior Drake Coleman put the game out of reach with two early 3-pointers that stretched Jeff’s advantage to 74-51. Wright-Baker capped off his big night with five points and three rebounds in five minutes of the final period.

All three Red Devil seniors left to the student section chanting their names.

“It was very nice to see three kids, who are so dedicated and loyal to our program, play so well,” LaGrange said. “They are three enjoyable kids to be around. They’ve been a integral part of our success this season. They were very deserving of their moment.”

On the night, Jeff shot 62.2 percent from the field (33-for-53), hit 8-of-10 on 3-point shots and connected on nine of its 11 free-throw attempts. The Devils outrebounded Scottsburg (9-10) 28-19 and had 10 offensive boards, including a game-high five by Wright-Baker.

“Jeff has a heck of a team,” Keck admitted. “We talked about blocking out and keeping them off of the offensive boards, but that’s easier said than done. They go to the rim very well.”

Clark backed up Wright-Baker with 16 points and A.J. Adams added 11. Ewing and Maschmeyer had 10 apiece, while Fisher finished wih nine and Coleman seven for the balanced Devils. Wright-Baker, Clark and Ewing led the team with three assists apiece and Ewing had a team-high three steals. Adams tallied two of Jeff’s three blocked shots.

Jeff will have its quickest turnaround of the season on Saturday. The Devils travel to Newburgh to face 8-9 Castle at 2:30 today, less than 18 hours after Friday’s victory ended.

“It’s odd to have to play not even 24 hours later with a long bus ride,” LaGrange admitted. “On the other hand, it’s kind of a sectional situation. We have to come back and beat a good team.”

“I’m not worried about it,” Wright-Baker said. “We’ve got to do it at tourney time, so we might as well do it now.”



SCOTTSBURG 16 19 12 10—57

JEFFERSONVILLE 18 20 25 20—83

Scottsburg (9-10) — Boswell 6, Bridgewater 18, Humes 5, Gregory 9, Myers 8, Clemons 2, Everett 9.

Jeffersonville (14-4) — Adams 11, Coleman 7, Catlett 2, Fisher 9, Wright-Baker 18, Maschmeyer 10, Clark 16, Ewing 10.

Three-point field goasls — Scottsburg 2 (Humes, Gregory); Jeffersonville 8 (Coleman 2, Maschmeyer 2, Clark 2, Fisher, Wright-Baker).

Rebounds — Scottsburg 19 (Humes 4), Jeffersonville 28 (Wright-Baker 9).

Turnovers — Scottsburg 14, Jeffersonville 18.