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Smith leads Zebras with 9
BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS
Sports Editor, RTC
NORTH JUDSON — Blayne Wilcox scored 17 points, and the North Judson boys basketball team forced visiting Rochester into 20 turnovers in recording a 46-33 win Friday.
Kelson Jordan, a 6-5 junior, threw down two dunks as part of his eight points, and Cheyenne Allen also had a jam as part of his eight.
Aidan Smith led Rochester with nine points. Tarick McGlothin and Paul Leasure, Rochester’s starting guards who combined for 33 points in a win over Winamac in their previous game, were held to three points combined.
North Judson pressed fullcourt for much of the game, making Rochester work to bring the ball up the floor. One of Rochester’s turnovers was a rarely seen 10-second violation.
“They were grinding on us physically,” Rochester coach Rob Malchow said. “And they were able to get us on our heels, and their pressure was outstanding.”
Rochester also did not attempt a free throw. North Judson committed only seven fouls.
Rochester lost despite having a 14-4 advantage in bench points.
North Judson improved to 2-0. Rochester fell to 2-2 going into their home game Saturday night against Logansport.
Payton Cox had the defensive assignment on Leasure, who hit a long 3-pointer with 5:17 left in the first half. Ty Schumacher held McGlothin scoreless.
“Outstanding,” Malchow said of Cox and Schumacher’s defense. “They were a little longer, a little taller and could stay with them. That made it tough for them to get shots off tonight.”
North Judson coach Kent Chezem also praised Cox and Schumacher.
“It was phenomenal, especially considering who they were guarding,” Chezem said. “Those two guys can light it up. They can score at all three levels. It was really tough on us. We talked about them a lot this week, so it was nice to see our guys step up to the challenge.”
The Zebras led 9-7 with 3:48 left in the first quarter after Smith knocked down a 15-footer after a nifty pump fake.
North Judson countered with an 8-0 run covering the first and second quarters to take a 15-9 lead, and they never trailed again.
The Blue Jays led 27-19 at halftime. Rochester stayed within 29-22 when Luke Hunting hit a 3-pointer with 4:41 left in the third quarter, but Allen’s steal and dunk started a 10-0 run that increased the lead to 17.
Wilcox scored six straight points during the run, including a finish at the rim off a lob and a tip-in. Schumacher also had a transition bucket off a Zebra turnover.
Rochester had 10 turnovers in the third quarter alone, which concluded with Aaron Huffman hitting a 27-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“These kids who were eighth-graders and JVers last season, this was a tough way to learn, and I think they learned a lot tonight,” Malchow said.
North Judson held a Military Appreciation night. The festivities included a rendition of the national anthem from former Boston member Kimberley Dehme, a ceremony to honor POW/MIA soldiers complete with military symbolism and an Army induction ceremony.
North Judson also wore camouflage uniforms in their blue and yellow school colors.
North Judson 46, Rochester 33
ROCHESTER (33) (2-2)
Tarick McGlothin 0 0-0 0, Paul Leasure 1 0-0 3, Tanner Reinartz 1 0-0 2, Luke Hunting 2 0-0 5, Aidan Smith 4 0-0 9, Hunter Campbell 0 0-0 0, Brock Bowers 0 0-0 0, Aaron Huffman 2 0-0 5, Evan Elliott 0 0-0 0, Robert Bozzo 3 0-0 7, Ethan Medina 0 0-0 0, Xavier Vance 1 0-0 2
TEAM: 14 0-0 33
NORTH JUDSON (46) (2-0)
Payton Cox 1 0-0 2, Ty Schumacher 3 0-0 7, Kelson Jordan 4 0-0 8, Cheyenne Allen 3 1-2 8, Blayne Wilcox 6 5-7 17, Aldric Harper 0 0-0 0, Quinn Bales 1 0-0 2, Eric Materna 0 2-2 2
TEAM: 18 8-11 46
Three-point field goals:
Rochester 5 (Smith, Bozzo, Hunting, Hoffman, Leasure),
North Judson 2 (Allen, Schumacher)
Total fouls: Rochester 9, North Judson 7
Turnovers: Rochester 20, North Judson 10
Score by quarters
Rochester 9 10 10 4 – 33
North Judson 14 13 13 6 – 46
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