BOYS’ HOOPS: No. 10 Red Devils blow out Stars, 74-47

By GREG BURTON

Special to Southern Indiana Preps

JEFFERSONVILLE — The Class 4A No. 10 Jeffersonville Red Devils put on a clinic Friday night against visiting Bedford North Lawrence.

The Red Devils of coach Joe Luce were efficient in their dismantling of the Stars. The final score was 74-47. Jeff held BNL to its second-lowest scoring night of the season — second only to a 61-39 loss to Class 4A No. 6 Bloomington South on Dec. 1. At the same time, the Red Devils scored more points against the Stars than any other team this season.

“We guarded really well and contested about every shot they took,” said Luce. “When they missed, we rebounded and were able to get out and run. And offensively we were very efficient. We have to be pleased with the way we played tonight. Overall, it was a balanced attack and a very good defensive game. I just thought overall, we had a really good game.”

Jeff (13-2, 4-2 Hoosier Hills Conference) demonstrated offensive balance as one key to the lopsided victory. Four Red Devils reached double figures, led by senior Bailey Falkenstein’s 23 points. Jaden Coleman added 16, Tre Coleman 14 and Jacob Jones 11.

“We played really well, we played together and we were really clicking,” said Falkenstein. “We moved the ball really well. We played exceptionally good defense. It was probably our best defensive game as a team.”

Jeff jumped out to an early 9-2 lead. Then, in an odd turning point of the game, BNL’s Jathan Ritter hit a 3-pointer and the Stars (10-6, 4-1) immediately called a timeout. That timeout seemed to energize Jeff, however, as the Red Devils scored the next 15 points to end the first period. Jeff led 24-5 at the end of the quarter.

“We just got going,” said Falkenstein about the run that essentially put the game away. “Jaden did his dunking, I was scoring, Tre was Tre and Jacob Jones ran the game.”

About midway through the second period, the Red Devils stretched the lead to 33-11 and it appeared there was no stopping them.

The Stars staged their last rally of significance at that point, however, outscoring Jeff 12-2 and pulling within a dozen points at 35-23.

A Jaden Coleman bucket to end the half put an end to that, however, and the Red Devils led 37-23 at the break.

The Red Devils dispelled all doubt to begin the second half, scoring the first nine points and for all practical purposes salting the game away.

While highly efficient on offense, going 28-of-51 from the floor (54.9 percent), the defense is what fueled Jeff for much of the time. The Red Devils were able to get out and run often, creating numerous easy baskets.

“I thought we were really solid defensively,” said Luce. “We were able to get stops, and when we get stops we can get out and run and good things happen for us.”

Ritter paced the Stars in scoring with 19 points. No other BNL player reached double figures. Jeff held the Stars to just 40.9 percent from the field on 18-of-44 shooting.

The Red Devils will travel to Evansville Harrison (11-5) tonight. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 EDT.

BNL will play at Greenfield-Central (4-10) tonight.

Note: Prior to Friday night’s game, Jeff honored its 1993 state championship team as it is the 25^th anniversary of the school’s lone boys’ basketball state title. The Red Devils posted a 29-2 record that season as they defeated Ben Davis in the state championship game, 66-61.

JEFF 74, BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE 47

BNL               5   18   12   12—47

Jeff              24   13   23   14—74

BNL (10-6, 4-1 HHC): McCall Ray 1-7 0-0 2, Brayton Bailey 2-6 4-8 8, Isaiah Stockman 4-9 0-0 8, Drew Shoufler 1-5 0-0 2, Jathan Ritter 7-12 1-1 19, Gaven Moore 1-1 0-0 2, Koby Byers 1-1 1-1 3, Cale Bunch 0-0 0-0 0, Brandon Finn 0-0 1-2 1, Avery Brand 0-2 0-0 0, Lane Hawkins 1-1 0-2 2, Canaan Browning 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-44 7-14 47.

Jeff (13-2, 4-2): Jacob Jones 5-11 1-2 11, Bailey Falkenstein 9-15 1-1 23, Jaden Coleman 8-13 0-0 16, Tre Coleman 5-8 4-5 14, Zeke Smith 1-3 2-4 4, Jaylen Fairman 0-1 2-2 2, Trevis Oglesby 0-0 0-1 0, Markez Jordan 0-0 2-2 2, Olufemi Kareem 0-0 0-0 0, Michael Garcia 0-0 0-0 0, Izaac Smith 0-0 2-2 2, Hunter Schmitz 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-51 14-19 74.

3-point field goals: BNL 4-12 (Ritter 4-7, Ray 0-4, Bailey 0-1); Jeff 4-11 (Falkenstein 4-6, J. Coleman 0-1, T. Coleman 0-1, Fairman 0-1, Jones 0-1, Z. Smith 0-1).

Rebounds: BNL 23 (Stockman 9); Jeff 27 (T. Coleman 9).

Turnovers: BNL 16, Jeff 12.

Total fouls: BNL 14, Jeff 14.

Fouled out: Byers.

Junior varsity: Jeff 49, BNL 45.