Wheeling Park Cruises Past JM
Patriots end game on a 41-9 spurt
WHEELING -- After John Marshall cut a Wheeling Park lead to six with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter, Patriots' coach Michael Jebbia called a timeout. The brief delay in play was just what his team needed as Wheeling Park came out of the time out and went on a 41-9 run to end the game to secure a 77-39 victory over the Monarchs Tuesday night at the Palace on the Hill.
"I just felt like they were getting comfortable. Then, we converted a little bit. We converted on a couple of offensive possessions, got some stops and were able to go on run," Jebbia said. "We didn't play very well Saturday night in our opener, so our guys were hungry to get back and just play better. We got into foul trouble in the first game and didn't shoot well. And even though, JM made that run and cut it to six, our guys responded."
Beau Heller gave the Patriots the spark they were looking for as he connected on the a 3-pointer. About a minute later, Avery Lee drilled a shot from behind the arc himself to give the Patriots a double figure lead. The game did not get within single digits again.
After ending the third quarter on a 17-3 run, Wheeling Park also scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and finished the game scoring 14 unanswered.
"It doesn't matter what defense we're in or what anybody's in. You're not playing defense if you're giving up 41-9 run," John Marshall coach Chad Clutter said. "We'll make our adjustments, we'll do what we can, but they were quicker than us off the dribble all night long. That proved it in that 41-9 run. They hit a couple of 3's out of the zone, which forced us to go back to man and it started all over again. It was a good timeout and adjustment on their end."
Cole Gilbert was a force inside for the Monarchs, scored eight points in the third, including the bucket that got his team within six, 36-31. The Monarchs opened the third scoring 10 of the first 15 points to get within striking distance.
Gilbert led the way for John Marshall with 14 points while Derrick Derrow supplied nine.
However, they couldn't make up any more ground.
"The guys did a nice job," Jebbia said. "I checked the stats and we had 23 assists, so our guys were giving the ball up to the open man. We're going to be much more of a balanced scoring team this year. All 10 of our guys are solid varsity basketball players."
Indeed. All 10 players for Wheeling Park cracked the scoring column and all five starters had a bucket within the first five minutes of action.
Lee led all scorers as he turned in 20 points and also dished out four assists while Brett Phillips supplied a double-double scoring 17 and bringing down 12 rebounds. Heller rounded out the double figures with 13 points. D.J. Saunders was solid with six assists and three steals for the Patriots.
Wheeling Park is back in action tonight with a big matchup against Brooke while John Marshall's next game will be Friday as it pays a visit to Magnolia.