By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – When Shakespeare, who never won anything, penned the classic Henry IV, he predicted the future for defending champions. Kings don’t sleep well.
”Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” After winning the coveted Class 4A state title last season, Jeffersonville’s encore nights have been fitful. That’s understandable, considering all the talent that graduated, considering the target on that crown and the usurpers seeking to wrest power away or plotting revenge.
New faces in different roles, and record reflections of the maturing process. That’s a common theme between Jeffersonville (6-10) and Bedford North Lawrence (5-11). Somebody will sleep a little better on Friday night.
The Stars will visit historic Johnson Arena for their annual Hoosier Hills Conference clash with the Red Devils, a rivalry that dates back decades. Both have inflicted considerable pain on the other while celebrating wins and trophies at the other’s expense. This will be more of a melancholy commiseration. Both need a victory as a launch point toward the postseason.
”Both of these programs, at this point of the season with the body of work so far, we’re just worried about ourselves,” BNL coach Jackson Ryan said. “At this time of the year, you’re trying to press the right buttons and get the rotation down. Both teams are still trying to figure that out. It’s definitely a swing game for both teams.”
Jeffersonville, which will go on the road at face Jennings County on Thursday before returning home for a rare pre-weekend doubleheader, lost most of its firepower with the departure of stars Tre Singleton (making an impact at Northwestern), Michael Cooper (Wright State) and P.J. Douglas (Wright State). That was a huge void to fill.
“We’ve gone through some growing pains,” Jeffersonville coach Sherron Wilkerson said. “We have guys that were along for the ride last year, but it’s a different challenge when you’ve been thrown the car keys and you have to dictate the direction we move.
“At certain points of the season we’ve done OK with it, and other parts we’ve struggled. Hopefully we can see some growth. We get the best shot from everyone, we’re Jeffersonville and the defending state champs. We have guys in new roles, who have not been used to being called on to be the franchise player. When you put all of those variables into the equation, we’re 6-10.”
The Red Devils have also battled through adversity with injuries and illness, so the lineup has been in constant flux. The leaders are seniors Terrence Nord (9.1 points per game) and Elijah Cheek, both returning veterans from last season, and junior Jacob Wilkerson (11.3 and the lone scorer in double figures.
BNL will feature similar numbers with senior Dax Short (14.3) and junior Parker Kern (9.1).
”You can never judge a team in Indiana by the record,” Wilkerson said of the Stars. “They’re really tough kids, they play really hard, and they’re organized. The staff has done a good job of putting them in position to be successful. We have to bring our A game. They’ve shown what they’re capable of doing.”
Jeffersonville swept two games in the series last season. The Devils won the regular-season confrontation 48-39 at BNL Fieldhouse, with Singleton recording a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards while Cooper added 12 points. In the sectional rematch, the Devils dunked the Stars 68-38 as Cooper totaled 23 points. Patric Matson had 19 points for BNL, which was guilty of 17 turnovers.
BNL at JEFFERSONVILLE
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 5-11 (1-3 in HHC); Jeffersonville 6-10 (2-1 in HHC), at Jennings County on Thursday
Sagarin ratings: BNL 67.31; Jeffersonville 75.96
Series: Jeffersonville leads 36-29
Last meeting: Last year, the Red Devils swept the Stars in two games. Jeffersonville won the regular-season meeting 48-39 at BNL as Tre Singleton totaled 13 points and 10 rebounds. In the sectional clash, the Devils decked the Stars 68-38, with Michael Cooper scoring 23 points for Jeffersonville.
Previous game story: Stars succumb to Devilish pressure
Game notes: Jeffersonville is the defending Class 4A state champion. The Devils also won the state title in 1993, when current coach Sherron Wilkerson played for Jeffersonville.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Gibson Crane 6-3 Sr.
F – Easton Moore 6-2 So.
G – Dax Short 6-1 Sr.
G – Parker Kern 6-1 Jr.
G – Driven Axsom 5-8 Sr.
Jeffersonville Red Devils
F – Caleb Jones 6-2 Jr.
F – Jacob Wilkerson 6-3 Jr.
G – Terrence Nord 6-1 Sr.
G – Elijah Cheek 6-0 Sr.
G – Fred Stone 5-11 So.
