H.S. BOYS' BASKETBALL: Jeff spanks defending Kentucky state champ Trinity, 68-51

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Jeffersonville's Drew Ellis battles inside for a rebound against visiting Louisville Trinity on Friday night at Johnson Arena. Photo by Joe Ullrich
Jeffersonville's Darryl Baker shoots over Trinity's James Quick, left, and DeMarcus Page, right, on Friday night at Johnson Arena. Photo by Joe Ullrich
Jeffersonville's Myles Harvey blows past Trinity's James Quick on his way to the basket on Friday night at Johnson Arena. Photo by Joe Ullrich
Jeffersonville's Keenan Williams shoots a floater over Trinity's Wil'vontre Ivory on Friday night at Johnson Arena. Photo by Joe Ullrich
Jeffersonville's Darryl Baker shoots a 3-pointer over Trinity's DeMarcus Page on Friday night at Johnson Arena. Photo by Joe Ullrich

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February 16, 2013

H.S. BOYS' BASKETBALL: Jeff spanks defending Kentucky state champ Trinity, 68-51

Devils open on 15-2 run to improve to 17-3

BY MIKE RILEY sports@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Sat Feb 16, 2013, 12:28 AM EST

JEFFERSONVILLE — So much for Hoosier Hospitality.

Determined not to leave the court as losers on Senior Night, the Jeffersonville Red Devils left no detail to chance and left no doubt as they turned back Louisville Trinity 68-51 Friday at Johnson Arena.

The game wasn't as close as the final score indicated as Jeffersonville (17-3) — ranked No.14 in Indiana Class 4A — ran out to a 15-2 first quarter lead and was never threatened.

Trinity (24-5) — ranked eighth in Kentucky — trailed 19-5 after a first quarter that saw them shoot 1-of-9 from the floor and turn the ball over eight times.

From that point on it wasn't if — but by how much Jeff would win — as the Red Devils led 34-20 at halftime, eventually building the lead to as much as 27 points.

"We've got four seniors on this team that didn't want to lose," said Jeffersonville coach Chad Gilbert. "We played hard. We got off to a great start and played with a lot of intensity. There were a couple of times when we seemed to settle back, but for the most part, we played buzzer-to-buzzer. They played tonight like it was their last game ever. They should play like that every night."

And nowhere was that more evident than the play of senior guard Darryl Baker, who scored 13 points in the opening quarter before finishing with a game-high 29.

"It was Senior Night and he stepped up and had a big game," Gilbert said. "We had a lot of things out on the table tonight, including making up for last year at their place [a 61-54 loss]. We wanted to represent Indiana well and the seniors wanted to do a good job."

"We kept our poise tonight and played hard," Baker said. "They got the best of us last year."

Also evident of the effort in the victory, Jeff won the rebounding battle 29-26 despite playing five guards. Drew Ellis and Keenan Williams led the way with six rebounds apiece for the Devils.

"People say we need a big man to make us a better team. I think he would just get in the way." Gilbert said."

Ellis amd Myles Harvey each added 10 points for Jeffersonville

Wil'vontre Ivory was the only Trinity player to finish in double figures, coring 26 points as he connected on 6-of-10 fron 3-point range. DeMarcus Page had eight rebounds to lead the Shamrocks.

Along with Baker, seeing their last home action on Friday were Kortrell White, Jacquari Chandler and Devin Shackleford.

Jeff now must travel to Castle for a game tonight.

"We're treating this just like sectional week," Gilbert said. "We played Tuesday and Friday. Now we're going to hop on a bus and drive two hours to Castle. As long as we rebound, take care of the ball and don't pass up good shots."

"We'll take it game-by-game," Baker said. "We just have to keep our poise, play hard and play good defense."

"These kids are all winners," Gilbert said. "They'll do whatever it takes to win."