Published: November 29, 2009 12:46 am      

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Dominating opener

Red Devils drub Evansville Bosse, 86-59

JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeffersonville’s boy’ basketball team dominated every aspect of its season opener and beat visiting Evansville Bosse, 86-59 on Saturday.

The Red Devils played well on offense and on defense, displayed depth and balance, rebounded well, took care of the basketball and played defense for which the Bulldogs had no answer.

Statistics don’t always tell the story. On Saturday, they did.

Even without an injured Evan Maschmeyer, eight different Red Devils scored. Four were in double figures, led by Kegan Clark’s 21, and all had at least three points. Jeff out-rebounded Bosse, 46-29. The Red Devils turned the ball over 18 times, but 15 of those came in the second half after the game was well in hand. In the first half, Jeff forced 16 times and Bosse had 23 in the contest.

In a 27-12 first quarter, Jeff hit 11 of 21 shots. It made 20 of 35 for the first half.

Jeff also had 15 assists and eight steals.

“I thought the effort was good and the unselfishness was very good,” Jeff coach Tim LaGrange said. “The defensive intensity was solid and our young guys were a little nervous in the beginning, but they calmed down and showed that they’re going to give us something this year. Overall, it was a good start. I give us a passing grade.”

Bosse took an early 4-3 lead, but it was short-lived. After A.J. Adams hit a free throw to tie the score at 4, Jonathan Ellis had a steal and hoop to give the Red Devils the lead for good. F

Jeff then went on a 24-8 run to end the first quarter. In the run, seven different Red Devils scored, including five points from Adams and five from Clark. Adams finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds despite sitting for much of the second period with foul trouble.

“I thought for the first quarter and a half, we had a nice rhythm to our offense and our transition game,” LaGrange said.

Bosse failed to score for the first four minutes of the second quarter as Jeff expanded the lead to 39-14 as Clark scored seven points during that span.

In the final four minutes, however, Jeff experienced its one draught. Bosse scored 15 points in the final four minutes of the second period.

“I thought we got a little sloppy there late in the second quarter,” LaGrange said. “Our offense was out-of-sync and our defensive intensity (let up).”

Jeff put the game away in the third by outscoring the Bulldogs, 22-15. Coleman, who finished with 17 points, was the catalyst in the third period with eight points, two steals, two assists, two rebounds and a deflection. The senior finished with five assists, five steals and four rebounds before going out in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

Coleman’s injury is a concern because it is on top of Maschmeyer’s ankle injury, and a Clark knee injury that made him a game-time decision.

“It’s been a rough pre-season, injury-wise,” LaGrange said.

Jonathan Ellis finished the contest with 11 points and a team-high six steals. Sophomore Tyrone Williams had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. V.J. Billups contributed seven points, six rebound and two blocks, and Dominque Catlett had four points, four rebounds and two assists.

Denereo Clay led Bosse with 24 points, 20 of which came in the second half. He was the only Bulldog in double figures.

Jeff is off until next Saturday when it hosts Louisville Ballard.



EVANSVILLE BOSSE 12 15 15 17—59

JEFFERSONVILLE 27 24 22 13—86

Bosse (0-1) — Huebner 2, Graupner 2, Frazier 4, Pendleton 5, Smith 6, Kirskey 4, Clay 24, Trice 8, Ivey 2, Zack 2.

Jeffersonville (1-0) — Adams 15, Clark 21, Coleman 17, Billups 7, Catlett 4, Jon. Ellis 11, Jor. Ellis 3, Williams 8.

3-point field goals — Bosse 5 (Clay 4, Trice); Jeffersonville 8 (Coleman 3, Clark 2, Jon. Ellis 2, Billups).

Rebounds — Bosse 29 (Smith 4); Jeffersonville 46 (Adams 11).

Turnovers — Bosse 23, Jeffersonville 17.

Junior Varsity — Jeffersonville 36 (Whaley 6, Wilbourn 2, Heubner 11, Lockhart 6, Irwin 3, Bryant 4, Goines 6), Bosse 34.