’Jackets open by sweeping Gleason

Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 12:00 pm

By RANDY CAVIN
Press Sports
Greenfield opened up its high school basketball season Monday night with a sweep over county rival Gleason, the girls winning 40-35 and the boys taking the nightcap 59-29.
Nine Lady Yellowjackets scored in the win over the Lady Bulldogs and used a pressing defense to keep Gleason at bay most of the game.
In the boys’ game, Gleason’s only scoring in the first half came from the free throw line, and the ’Dogs did not make a field goal until 6:33 of the third period.
G’field 40, Gleason 35 (G)
The Lady Yellowjackets (1-0) and Lady Bulldogs (1-1) traded jabs early in the first period, but then Greenfield took control of the game with a pressure defense, double-teaming and trapping Gleason at every opportunity.
“I thought we played really hard, and I thought that our kids really kind of sold out while they were out there, knowing that we were going to play a lot of people,” head coach Willie Trevathan said.
“Everybody contributed, and that is huge. That is what we need to happen with nine players scoring.”
A 3-pointer by Ashton Pence gave Greenfield a five-point lead midway in the first period before a pair of baskets by Jaclyn Montgomery and Briana Jones cut into the lead. Five straight points by Greenfield’s Shaynece Clemons negated the comeback.
The Lady ’Jacket up-tempo defense created opportunities for them on the offensive side, but it also got them in some early foul trouble.
As a result, Greenfield slowed the pace considerably in the second period. The Lady Yellowjackets only scored five points in the second while holding the Lady Bulldogs to only three for a 23-12 Greenfield lead at the halftime break.
“The second quarter got slowed down a little when we got into some foul trouble,” Trevathan said. “We wanted to keep the ball out of their hands as much as we could and not let them go to the line and score easy baskets.”
Gleason went to the line twice in the second period and hit 3-of-4 shots for its only points in the period.
The Lady Bulldogs mounted a comeback in the third period by outscoring Greenfield 11-5 to pull within four points.
Greenfield led just 28-24 at the end of the third as Jones scored six of her game-high 17 points in the frame to keep Gleason close.
Jones made it a two-point game with a jumper to begin the final period, but a 3-pointer by Alle Dees and layup by Kalee Kesterson of Greenfield gave the Lady ’Jackets some breathing room.
Jones hit another jumper with 3:16 remaining to make it a 33-28 game.
With several fouls to give before putting Greenfield in the bonus, the Lady Bulldogs began fouling to stop the clock.
A 3-pointer by Mont-gomery with 34 seconds left made it a two-point game. Free throws by Rachel Roberts and Kesterson, however, iced the game for Greenfield.
G’field 59, Gleason 29 (B)
No field goals in the first half spelled doom for the Bulldogs (0-2) on Monday night.
With the Yellowjackets (1-0) scoring at will, there was not much doubt how the game was going to end.
The ’Jackets jumped out in front early and kept the Bulldogs off-balanced throughout the first half. Greenfield led 18-1 at the end of the first period and 36-5 by halftime.
Tony Robinson led the way with a game-high 16 points and hit three 3-pointers.
Hunter Crouse scored 11 and Tyler Hoke added 10 to give the Yellowjackets three players in double figures in scoring.
“Our defense was really good with forcing turnovers and turning them into layups,” Greenfield head coach Peter Angelos said.
“Our intensity was good. We are sick of practicing and beating each other up. Our guys are happy the games are here, and I am happy, too, because I was getting a little bored.”
Gleason finally got some offense going in the second half, thanks to Austin Perry and Dakota Parsons.
Perry’s basket 1:27 into the third period was the first field goal made by Gleason, and the Bulldogs managed to score 12 points in the quarter.
Gleason outscored Greenfield 12-6 in the final period.
Tyler Griffin came in off the bench and scored all six points for Greenfield.
Parsons led Gleason in scoring with 13 followed by Perry with eight.
Greenfield will play two games in the Sonic Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Westview, on Saturday. The boys will play University School of Jackson at noon, and the girls will take on Dyer County at 1:30 p.m.
Both games will be played at the Westview gym.
The Yellowjackets will close out November with a pair of District 14A twinbills, traveling to Lake County on Nov. 27 and hosting Bradford on Nov. 30.
Gleason is right back in action tonight, hosting Bradford, and will finish the month Nov. 30 at Clarksburg in 13A play. Published in The WCP 11.20.12