By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
JEFFERSONVILLE – Devils play with fire, they feel comfortable in the hottest environment. It comes with the territory. Bedford North Lawrence, in torment and needing a drop of water on the tongue for relief, felt the heat and got burned.
With speed and ferocity, Jeffersonville lit the torch on a runaway victory on Friday night. Tre Singleton was a single-handed force in the paint, Michael Cooper was slippery and smooth, and the Stars were singed by turnovers as the Red Devils stuck a pitchfork in BNL’s quest for another Hoosier Hills Conference title.
Cooper exploded for 26 points, Singleton totaled 22, and Jeffersonville’s tenacious defense forced BNL to a reckless speed with 18 turnovers during a 78-56 triumph. The Devils (11-6 overall, 4-1 in the league) can still claim a share of the HHC crown with one more win, while BNL’s second straight league loss eliminated the Stars from possibly defending their share.
BNL (10-4, 2-2) had no answers for Jeff’s impressive stars. Singleton, a 6-8 power in the lane, scored 10 quick points (and 18 in the first half) to set the tone, and Cooper was a lightning-quick finisher. Together, they hit 22 of 30 shots. Together, they were a devastating combination.
“Singleton was super aggressive,” BNL coach Kurt Godlevske said. “When he’s making his shots, he’s tough to defend. We don’t see that size and ability around the basket. Cooper was consistent and a tough defend for us.”
Singleton’s early burst powered the Devils to a 19-15 lead. The Stars were hanging on a 25-19 midway through the second when Singleton muscled home a layup and turned a steal into a breakaway slam for a 35-22 lead. Noah Godlevske’s bomb at the buzzer got the Stars within 10 at the half.
Jeffersonville’s next burst ended the drama. Singleton dropped an 8-footer in the lane, P.J. Douglas flexed in the lane for a 3-point play, and Cooper swished a bomb from in front of his bench at the third-quarter horn for a 58-40 advantage. The Stars were out of breath and out of options.
Singleton settled into passing mode in the fourth, but his fast start was key.
“It was his paint touches,” Jeffersonville coach Sherron Wilkerson said. “We thought we could take advantage, they’re a little thin inside from a size standpoint. We got him some touches, he got going. He’s a Division I recruit. He should be able to do that.”
Patric Matson paced the Stars with 16 points and Godlevske added 14. The Stars hit 11 treys, and against most opponents that would work. But the turnovers fueled Jeffersonville’s fire, especially in transition. The Devils also had a 29-16 advantage in rebounds, with Singleton grabbing 8. The Devils had as many offensive rebounds as BNL’s total. Douglas added 15 points.
“That’s the length and size,” Godlevske. “They did a terrific job of getting after us. We were sped up. It caused us to not get into our actions. It’s a tough thing for the kids. You could see it in their eyes.
“It was a great experience for our kids. We were disorganized because we’ve never experienced anything like that. It was a huge growing opportunity for us, and we have to learn from that. They’re a very good basketball team.”
The Sagarin computer likes the Devils. They’re ranked 10th in the state in the power ratings, and BNL could not argue that point. Jeff’s constant pressure, on the ball and in the passing lanes, wore the Stars down.
“We were very pleased with our defense,” Wilkerson said. “That was our point of emphasis. Those guys are really good, really good shooters. If we didn’t guard the basketball, we were going to get beat by 30. If we get stops, we get out in transition and use our athleticism. We have some pretty decent athletes.
“That’s the No.1 thing for us to be successful. Shots won’t always fall. But if you can guard and rebound, at a high level, you have a chance.”
Seymour clinched a share of its first HHC title with a win over Floyd Central. The Devils and New Albany can still claim part of it by winning out.
BNL will look to rebound on Saturday night, hosting Terre Haute North.
BEDFORD NL STARS (56)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
10 Patric Matson, f 4-6 6-11 0-0 7 3 16
31 Logan Miracle, f 0-0 2-2 0-0 0 0 4
11 Noah Godlevske, g 4-8 5-12 0-0 0 0 14
1 Trace Rynders, g 2-2 2-2 0-2 2 2 6
12 Maddox Ray, g 0-0 1-2 0-0 3 2 2
22 Isaiah Sasser 0-0 3-4 2-2 1 3 8
3 Quincy Pickett 1-2 1-2 1-2 1 1 4
40 Kline Woodward 0-1 0-4 0-0 0 0 0
5 Dax Short 0-0 1-1 0-1 1 0 2
Totals 11-20 21-40 3-7 16 11 56
JEFFERSONVILLE RED DEVILS (78)
3s FGs FTs R F Pts
12 P.J. Douglas, f 0-0 6-14 3-3 5 2 15
0 Tre Singleton, f 1-2 10-15 1-4 8 1 22
5 Michael Cooper, g 2-3 12-15 0-0 6 1 26
1 Jeremy Rose, g 0-1 3-4 0-0 2 2 6
24 Shawn Boyd, g 0-2 0-3 0-0 0 1 0
4 Ray Laird 0-0 1-1 0-0 2 3 2
3 Gilly Polk 1-1 1-1 0-0 0 3 3
10 Anthony Fresh 0-1 1-3 0-0 2 1 2
13 Caleb Jones 0-0 1-1 0-0 2 1 2
2 Scooter Stewart 0-0 0-1 0-0 0 1 0
20 Jacob Wilkerson 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 0 0
23 Jack Rutherford 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
11 Elijah Cheeks 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
33 Nik Schindler 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
31 Preston Whalen 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 4-10 35-59 4-7 29 15 78
Bedford NL 15 10 15 16 – 56
Jeffersonville 19 16 23 20 – 78
Turnovers – BNL 18, Jeffersonville 7
Field goal percentage – BNL 21-40 (.525); Jeffersonville 35-59 (.593)
Free throw percentage – BNL 3-7 (.429); Jeffersonville 4-7 (.571)
