BOYS’ HOOPS BREAKDOWN: Falkenstein has historic night in Jeff’s upset win over Ballard

By KEVIN HARRIS

kevinharris1972@gmail.com

JEFFERSONVILLE – Throughout the 2016-17 season, Jeffersonville junior Bailey Falkenstein has shown he has become one of the top players in Southern Indiana.

On Friday night at Johnson Arena, he proved it again in a major way.

Falkenstein etched his name in the Red Devil basketball record book by pouring in a career-high 41 points to lead Jeff to an 83-64 upset victory over Louisville Ballard. It was Senior Night at Jeff High. The Bruins (22-6) entered the game ranked sixth in Kentucky in the latest Courier-Journal Litkenhous Ratings.

Falkenstein’s point total is the fourth-highest single-game scoring output in Jeff history. He is the fourth Red Devil ever to score 40-plus points in a contest, joining some elite company in 1971 Indiana Mr. Basketball Mike Flynn, Pete Obremskey and Dennis Coutee. Flynn scored 40 or more points four times in his Jeff career from 1967-71, including a school-record 51 versus Providence in his senior season of 1970-71.

“Bailey Falkenstein is the epitome of a great basketball player,” Red Devil head coach Joe Luce said.

Falkenstein’s recent great play has been a huge reason why Jeff (14-8) has a six-game winning streak. During the streak, Falkenstein has averaged 27.5 points per game.

“It’s been a good stretch. I’m really feeling it,” Falkenstein said. “My teammates are giving me the ball and I’m in a good stretch right now. We’re playing really good basketball right now. We’re playing really hard.”

Along with his high point total versus Ballard, Falkenstein did a great job on the boards with six rebounds. Red Devil senior guard Mike Minton had 11 points. Jeff freshman Jacob Jones tallied 10 points, while teammate Tre Coleman grabbed a game-high seven boards.

Senior forward Clivonte Patterson led the Bruins with 18 points. It was the Red Devils’ first victory over Ballard since the 2008-09 season. The 19-point win matched Jeff’s largest margin of victory in series history.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Falkenstein – When you put up 41 points, you deserve to get as many player of the game awards as you want.

Falkenstein point totals for each quarter were consistent. He had 12 points in the first, eight in the second, 11 in the third and 10 in the fourth.

KEY SEQUENCE: Trailing 23-10 after the first quarter, Ballard bounced back with a 15-1 run to take a 25-24 lead with 4:19 left in the second.

However, Jeff responded with its second 17-0 run of the game to lead 41-25 at the half. The Red Devils then scored the first four points of the third to extend their advantage to 45-25. The closest the Bruins got after that was 13 points at 49-36 midway through the third.

UNSUNG HERO: Minton – Minton had a memorable final game at Johnson Arena. He knocked down three 3-pointers in a starting role. That included two during the Red Devils’ 17-0 run in the opening quarter to put them up 13 at period’s end.

WHAT JEFF DID WELL: The Red Devils’ offense had another sound performance during their win streak. It was the third time during the six-game winning streak Jeff has scored more than 80 points.

Luce was happy with the way his players competed against Ballard’s full-court press.

“We handled their press well. Their pressure is going to get to you because it’s really good,” Luce said. “We were able to play consistent tonight. It’s a good program win for us.”

Defensively, the Red Devils held the up-tempo Bruins in the 60s and forced Ballard into 16 turnovers. Also, Jeff outrebounded the Bruins 31-28.

AREA OF CONCERN FOR JEFF: Even though Jeff held its own against Ballard’s defensive pressure, it did commit 18 turnovers. But when a team faces the Bruins’ intense pressure, turning the ball over can be expected.

NEXT GAME: At Class 3A No. 9 Salem (18-2), Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

JEFF’S HIGHEST SINGLE-GAME POINT TOTALS
1. Mike Flynn               51              1970-71
2. (tie) Flynn                 43              1969-70
Pete Obremskey           43              1953-54
4. Bailey Falkenstein    41              2016-17
5. (tie) Dennis Coutee   40              2000-01
Flynn                             40              1970-71
Flynn                             40              1970-71

JEFFERSONVILLE 83, LOUISVILLE BALLARD 64

Ballard          10 15 17 22-64

Jeff                23 18 19 23-83

Ballard (22-6): Clivonte Patterson 18, Jamil Wilson 13, Antoine Darby 11, Tyron Duncan 6, Orlando Higginbottom 5, Marshon Ford 3, Jackson Molsberger 3, Kereion Douglas 2, Alexander Holley 2, Tyrese Duncan 1, Tony Kose 0, Jaylen Price 0, Dorion Tisby 0, Delonta Wimberly 0.

Jeff (14-8): Bailey Falkenstein 41, Mike Minton 11, Jacob Jones 10, Tre Coleman 6, Gerrin Moore 6, Cam Northern 5, Joe LaGrange 4, Jailen Ernest 0, Gabe Gallahar 0, Taj Sanders 0, Drew Taylor 0, Antonio Thompson 0.

3-point field goals: Ballard 5 (Darby 1, Ford 1, Molsberger 1, Patterson 1, Wilson 1); Jeff 5 (Minton 3, Falkenstein 2).

Rebounds: Ballard 28 (Patterson 6); Jeff 31 (Coleman 7).

Turnovers: Ballard 16, Jeff 18.

Total fouls: Ballard 22, Jeff 19.

Fouled out: none.

Technical fouls: Patterson; Falkenstein.

Junior varsity score: Jeff 75, Ballard 62.