JA senior Joey Walker turns a steal into a fast break dunk against Kenton Ridge. Walker notched 12 points in the team’s conference win.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Jonathan Alder came out with high energy in the first quarter its game against Kenton Ridge with the Pioneers taking another conference win, 60-32.
“I thought we were really together,” JA head coach Zach Ross said. “Offensively we were locked in.”
Kenton Ridge was seemingly three steps behind JA in the first quarter as the Pioneers mounted 19 points.
The Pioneers struck first blood. Peyton Heiss tallied a layup to get the offensive unit churning.
After halting the Cougars at the hoop, Joey Walker secured a three-point goal.
Following a Kenton Ridge turnover, Heiss found an opening beyond the arc for another Pioneer three-point play increasing the lead to 8-1.
Kenton Ridge, now feeling the heat, opted for a timeout with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
Taber Headings scored a contested layup for Alder, which forced the Cougars to rethink their strategy.
However, Kenton Ridge may have needed more time to think.
“I thought we stayed in the moment really well,” Ross said. “A lot of it was us sharing the ball.”
Following the brief timeout, the Pioneers produced a litany of scoring opportunities, first with Walker stripping a loose ball for a fast-break dunk.
After a three-point play and layup from Heiss, the Pioneers found themselves in the driver’s seat leading with the score 17-1.
That forced Kenton Ridge to call another timeout in the final moments of the first quarter.
The Cougars finally showed signs of life, thanks in part to a three-pointer from Aiden Hammer.
The second quarter proved to be more of the same at least for JA in terms of scoring.
With roughly five and a half minutes left in the half, Heiss found Headings trusting his shot for another three-point goal that gave JA a 27-4 margin.
With just about three minutes left in the half, JA senior Grant Welsch called his own number.
He swished a three-pointer for a 37-6 margin.
Kenton Ridge improved in the second quarter scoring 11 team points.
However, the Cougars trailed 37-15 at the break.
JA and Kenton Ridge seemingly matched each other offensively in the third stanza.
Kenton Ridge scored nine points and the Pioneers tallied eight.
The fourth quarter sealed the deal for JA after the Pioneers scored another 15 points.
“We really try to celebrate other people’s successes,” said Ross. “I think this team does a really good job of that.”
In terms of assists, JA shared the ball well, tallying 19 assists compared to Kenton Ridge’s seven. The Cougars had a hard time taking care of the ball, turning it over 12 times.
JA boasted 60% when it came to three-pointers, along with 50% from the charity stripe.
Alder was tough on the glass, outrebounding the Cougars, 26 rebounds-19.
Jonathan Alder
Welsch 2-0-5, Carter Harrington 2-1-5, Heiss 6-0-15, Mark 0-0-0, Jackson 0-0-0, Scott 0-0-0, VanKirk 1-0-2, Begin 2-0-5, Walker 5-1-12, Headings 6-1-16, Taylor 0-0-0, Hess 0-0-0. Three-point goals Welsch, Heiss 3, Begin, Walker, Headings 3.
Kenton Ridge
Terrell Robinson 0-0-0, Moore 2-2-6, Blackburn 5-0-14, Hammer 3-0-8, Nether 0-0-0, Gray 0-0-0, Fyffe 2-0-4, Tyrinn Robinson 0-0-0, Smith 0-0-0, Dornell 0-0-0. Three-point goals: Blackburn 4, Hammer 2.