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December 12, 2009

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Five Devils score in double figures to win HHC opener

Despite win, LaGrange not thrilled with Jeff’s intensity at Seymour

By KEVIN HARRIS

SEYMOUR — On Friday night at Scott Gym, the Jeffersonville boys’ basketball team did not play with the intensity and vigor that head coach Tim LaGrange wanted.

But using their talent and athleticism, the Red Devil found a way to win their Hoosier Hills Conference opener. Five Jeff players scored in double figures in an 80-65 victory over Seymour.

Despite the victory, LaGrange was hoping for a little more inspiration from his squad against an HHC and Class 4A sectional rival. He expressed his displeasure to the Red Devils in his post-game speech afterwards.

“I was disappointed in our defense tonight and I was disappointed in how we reacted to the environment. It was a sectional opponent on the sectional floor,” the third-year Jeff coach said. “That’s the kind of night that you want to make a statement. I don’t think we did that tonight.”

Senior Kegan Clark paced the Red Devils (2-1) with a team-high 15 points, while sophomore Tyrone Williams added 12. Jeff senior guard Drake Coleman tallied 11 points, and teammates A.J. Adams and Evan Maschmeyer each scored 10.

“Sharing the basketball is never a problem with this group,” LaGrange said. “What we want is for them to do a better job of taking what the defense is giving them on a given night.”

The players who gave Jeff the biggest boost on Friday were the ones who do not get all the headlines.

Along with his 12 points, the 6-foot-1 Williams was very active around the basket and held his own against Seymour’s bigger frontline players. The Ellis twins, Jordan and Jonathan, combined to score 11 points and pull down 14 rebounds.

Jordan, a sophomore along with his brother, had four points and shared game-high rebounding honors with Adams with 10 boards apiece. Jeff junior V.J. Billups came off the bench to collect nine points and six rebounds.

“Those guys play hard consistently,” LaGrange said. “V.J. has had three good games in a row, and I think those three sophomores get better every day.”

The biggest stretch of the game for Jeff was in the final moments of the second quarter. Leading 30-25 with less than two minutes remaining, the Devils went on a 7-0 run to go up by 12 points. Maschmeyer converted a layup, followed by a 3-pointer by Jonathan Ellis and a Williams layup right before the halftime horn.

That momentum helped the Red Devils keep the lead the rest of the way, as they built the advantage to as high as 18 points in the second half.

“We thought with about 3 ∏ minutes to go in the (first) half that maybe they were getting a little tired,” LaGrange said. “We were playing more guys than they were, so we were hoping to go on a run. I think that was an important spurt.”

Senior Matt Trimnell led the Owls (1-3, 0-1 HHC) with 25 points and nine rebounds. Maschmeyer came off the bench in his first action of the season after missing the first two contests with a high ankle sprain.

The Red Devils will host Madison tonight, with the junior varsity game tipping off at 6 p.m.



JEFFERSONVILLE 20 17 14 29—80

SEYMOUR 14 11 13 27—65

Jeff (2-1, 1-0 HHC) – Clark 15, Williams 12, Coleman 11, Adams 10, Maschmeyer 10, Billups 9, Jon. Ellis 7, Jor. Ellis 4, Catlett 2.

Seymour (1-3, 0-1) – Trimnell 25, Carmichael 13, Toppe 11, Fife 10, Kirtley 6, J. Hunnicutt 0, M. Hunnicutt 0, Beach 0, Fellows 0, Joray 0, Hubbard 0.

3-point field goals – Jeff 2 (Coleman, Jon. Ellis); Seymour 6 (Trimnell 3, Fife 2, Toppe).

Rebounds – Jeff 46 (Adams, Jor. Ellis 10); Seymour 33 (Trimnell 9).

Turnovers – Jeff 15, Seymour 14.

Junior varsity score – Jeff 46, Seymour 26.

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