Back-to-back: Fast start carries Rockets to King Coal tourney title
CARMICHAELS 鈥� Jefferson-Morgan rolled out to an early 14-point lead and carried the momentum forward for a 47-24 victory over Mapletown Friday night to successfully defend its King Coal Lions Tournament title.
The Rockets (7-3) led 20-6 after the first quarter and didn鈥檛 slow down, something coach Brandon Lawless was looking for his squad to do.
鈥淲e had high effort from the start of the game at the tip,鈥� praised Lawless. 鈥淲e had a lot of pride coming back as the team who won it.
鈥淭hey play 110 percent for each other. We talked about that, playing team basketball.鈥�
Mapletown was coming off its first win of the season, but any carryover from the victory was quickly dashed with Jefferson-Morgan鈥檚 quick start.
鈥淲e talked about being ready and not being flustered,鈥� said first-year Mapletown coach Chris Everson. 鈥淲e had the same, old issues. We don鈥檛 do what we do in practice.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 get a hold of it when things don鈥檛 go our way, and we let it snowball. We have to learn to play through it.鈥�
The Rockets鈥� lead grew to 32-11 at halftime.
鈥淲e have our spurts,鈥� said Lawless.
The Jefferson-Morgan defense clamped down on Mapletown in the third quarter as well with a 12-2 advantage for a 44-13 lead.
The mercy rule was invoked in the fourth quarter and both coaches turned to the bench with a running clock. Mapletown carried the fourth quarter, 11-3.
Jase Bedellion paced the Rockets with 13 points. Teammate Dayten Marion added 12. Josh Mick scored eight points for Josh Mick.
The two teams meet next Wednesday when Jefferson-Morgan hosts a boy-girl doubleheader for the start of section play.
鈥淲e better take something (from the loss). We play them two more times,鈥� said Everson.
鈥淭his is the best I鈥檝e watched them play all year. We were winning the little victories,鈥� said Lawless. 鈥淏ut, it鈥檚 water under the bridge. At the end of the day, we鈥檙e still 0-0 (in section play).鈥�
Beth-Center 56, Carmichaels 39 鈥� The Bulldogs defeated the host Mikes in the consolation game.
Carmichaels (3-6) had a rough shooting night, especially in the first half, and Beth-Center made the most of the opportunity for a 27-15 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs (2-6) led 39-26 after three quarters.
Beth-Center鈥檚 Brody Tharp and Jason Zellie shared game-scoring honors with 15 points apiece. Santino Revi added 10 points.
Dom Colarusso led the Mikes with 14 points.
Girls basketball
Springdale 33, Jefferson-Morgan 24 鈥� Springdale pulled into a 14-11 halftime lead and carried the momentum to the end of the game for a win over the Lady Rockets.
Ashlyn Ferderbar scored a game-high 16 points for Springdale (3-6).
Kayla Larkin led Jefferson-Morgan (2-8) with 12 points.
Brentwood 27, Carmichaels 26 鈥� The Lady Mikes briefly held the lead in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Spartans rallied late for a victory over the host team.
Brentwood (3-5) led 11-9 after the first quarter and 21-17 at halftime.
Carmichaels (1-8) sliced into the deficit and trailed 23-22 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Mikes rallied into the lead at 26-25 with just over three minutes remaining in the game on Alayna Simon鈥檚 running jumper in the lane.
However, Brentwood soon regained the lead and then held the home team off the scoreboard over the final three minutes.
Brentwood鈥檚 Ay鈥橫aree Henry scored a game-high 10 points. Megan Voithofer finished with eight points for Carmichaels.