Role Players Roll in Region 4
Both Bowling Green High School (31-2) and Russellville (26-7) advanced Monday night.
Bowling Green’s balance overwhelmed Franklin-Simpson’s Tavin Lovan, 77-59 and Russellville pummeled Clinton County, 73-49. The headliners were good, but integral play from several supporting cast members helped each victorious team.
Bowling Green High School
Jarius Key has the body to be a difference-maker at the high school level. Key (Hoop Dreams 17u) deferred to his elders all night offensively. His best play came late in the first quarter. After three teammates scolded him for biting on Lovan’s pump fake, Key lined up to collect Lovan’s free throw make out of the net.
On the subsequent defensive possession, Key gathered a miss and facing a impromptu double team smashed a couple dribbles on the deck to separate, then rifled a chest pass 70′ up the floor. His outlet pass led to an easy two points for DeAngelo Wilson.
DeAngelo Wilson is not your traditional role player. The senior has wonderful body control, toughness, and two-sport accolades. The Austin Peay football commit was a cannonball all night long. From the jump, Wilson ignited the crowd with speed and courage.
The tenacious guard is so crafty around the trees. Wilson’s expended energy did hurt the defensive structure. Franklin-Simpson hit 2-2 on three-pointers during BGHS’ first two zone defense looks. Both of the triples came out of Wilson’s zone.
After halftime, Wilson kept scoring. His first attempt of the second stanza helped remind Franklin-Simpson that BGHS was comfortable playing with a lead.
Franklin-Simpson
Tavin Lovan’s 27 points and 11 rebounds certainly demand attention, but benefited from spirited perimeter defense from Daelon Payne. Guarding a creative jet in Zion Harmon, Payne maintained his balance and even elevated to block a Harmon three-point attempt.
Payne’s block aroused some fanatic roars from an invested student section.
Harmon was not held down all game, but during the precarious second quarter especially, Payne was locked in on defense.
To defeat the Bowling Green Purples, Franklin-Simpson (26-7) needed a secondary scorer, which they frankly never truly found in the contest. Ollie Eutsey contributed eight points. His defensive mobility was important too.
Russellville
Sophomore Jacob Naylor flew around the floor, supplying tangible points and intangibles too. The younger Naylor bears an uncanny resemblance to his senior brother, Micah. While Micah controlled tempo, Jacob blitzed into the defense.
Jacob Naylor finished with 11 points, three assists, three rebounds, and generally created havoc. He will have more responsibilities next season, but for now Naylor and his Russellville Panthers are focused on Bowling Green.
Clinton County
There is no avoiding it. Clinton County (23-10) had a terrible night shooting the ball. As a team they shot a paltry 29.1% from the floor. Worse the squad turned the basketball over 21 times in a blowout loss. John Davis proudly fought all 24 minutes he was on the floor. Davis collected nine rebounds, scored 20 points, and did turn the ball over six times.
Considering the significant height disadvantage he faced in all rebound battles, Davis still found a way to lead his team on the glass.