Fairbanks’ Gatlin Luke (5) tries to stop JA’s Jackson Izzard from driving to the basket Saturday evening. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder boys basketball coach Zach Ross especially emphasized one facet of the game to his team over the past several days.
“We challenged the guys to play defense and they responded well,” said Ross after Saturday evening’s 55-28 non-conference victory over Fairbanks.
“We were primarily focused on No. 23 (FHS’ Braylon Green) because he is a really good player,” said the coach. “However, we also emphasized a more overall consistency and doing a better job of getting down in our defensive stances.”
The strategy worked for an entire 32 minutes as the Pioneers (4-1) shut down passing and driving lanes.
The Panthers (4-3) kept moving the ball around the perimeter, but did not find much in the way of open looks at the basket.
“They really clamped their defense down on us,” agreed Panther bench boss Justin George.
Alder’s opening possession was an indication of what was to come.
Grant Welsch knocked down a three-pointer within the first minute of the contest.
That led to a barrage of baskets by the Pioneers, who tallied 36 of their points from behind the three-point arc.
“I thought overall, we played decent defense against them,” said George. “It’s just that Jonathan Alder has a lot of great offensive players and guys who can shoot from the outside.”
The game was nearly three minutes old before Green went baseline and tallied Fairbanks’ first points of the night.
Owen Herbst scored on the offensive glass and Gatlin Luke got a leaning jumper to fall.
The result of those two buckets gave FHS a 6-4 edge with 3:31 left in the first period.
The Pioneers, however, dialed up long-distance over the next several minutes.
Jack Santa-Emma buried a pair of three-balls and Welsch added another as JA took a 15-8 lead into the ensuing quarter.
Offensive production was difficult to come by for the Panthers during the next eight minutes of action.
In the meantime, Logan Stevens and Santa-Emma swished shots from downtown to lift JA to a 25-10 margin.
Both teams came up with empty possessions for the next three minutes.
Santa-Emma tickled the twine for a three-ball at the buzzer, sending JA into the turn with a 28-10 lead.
Luke hit a basket for Fairbanks during the early going of the third quarter.
Alder, however, shut down the Panthers’ offense for the next several minutes.
FHS missed a handful of shots and suffered through several turnovers.
One of those miscues led to Santa-Emma’s lay-up that gave the Pioneers a 37-12 margin.
Green hit a bucket to only briefly break FHS’ drought.
JA got baskets from Santa-Emma and Henry Walker to climb to a 41-14 spread.
Trey Good got an off-balance shot to fall from the right side of the rim for the Panthers.
A free throw by Welsch, though, sent Alder into the final period with a commanding 42-16 lead.
Herbst hit a jumper for FHS to begin the final quarter, but the Pioneers’ lead was just too much to overcome.
Jackson Izzard and Welsch buried a pair of trifectas as Jonathan Alder’s advantage grew to 50-20.
The Pioneers went to their bench at that point and continued to coast to victory.
Santa-Emma led all scorers with 24 points.
Ross was also pleased with Walker and Stevens, who tallied eight points between them.
“Those guys only took a few shots, but made some that helped impact the game,” he said.
“Jonathan Alder is a very good team,” said George. “They are the best we’ve seen so far this season.”
The Pioneers will play in the Tuscarawas Central tournament on Friday ( vs. St. Thomas Aquinas) and Saturday vs. Dayton Chaminade).
“Those games will be very good tests for us,” said Ross.
The Panthers will make the trip to the Hoosier Gym in Indiana on Saturday afternoon to play North Union.
Jonathan Alder
Santa-Emma 9-2-24, Welsch 3-1-9, Izzard 2-1-6, Stevens 1-2-5, Walker 1-1-3, Gower 1-0-3, Reed 1-0-3, Heimlich 1-0-2, D. Begin 0-0-0, T. Begin 0-0-0, Heisler 0-0-0, Richey 0-0-0. Totals 19-7-55.
Three-point goals: Santa-Emma 6, Welsch 2, Stevens 1, Izzard 1, Gower 1, Reed 1.
Fairbanks
Green 4-0-8, Winkle 2-0-5, Good 2-0-5, Luke 2-0-4, Herbst 2-0-4, Schultz 1-0-2, Miller 0-0-0, Galsterer 0-0-0, Wilson 0-0-0, Higinbotham 0-0-0, Brake 0-0-0. Totals 13-0-28.
Three-point goals: Winkle 1, Good 1.