‘We’re not overrated.’ Defending 10th Region champs roll against rival.
There are a lot of new, unusual things to get used to during this COVID-19 shortened season.
There are coin flips between coaches instead of tipoffs between players, limited or no fans, and socially distanced team benches that mean you have to figure out how to hold your huddles during timeouts in a way that lets your players sit and rest and also make sure they can hear whatever the coach is trying to get across.
Then there’s adjusting to the vagaries of different coronavirus precautions from community to community such as having to bring your own practice basketballs on the road to warm up one night and having to have your halftime talk on the floor instead of a locker room the next.
Clark County has experienced almost all that in just three games.
But the Cardinals hold one constant amid the confusion: The defending 10th Region champions are really good — again.
And they demonstrated that point Friday night with a 95-79 rout of district rival Montgomery County, a team picked by a majority of the region’s coaches to pose a threat to Clark County this year after nearly pulling an upset in the region title game last season.
Senior guard Jerone Morton accounted for 39 of those points, leading four players in double figures for the Cardinals.
“Well, it was good, first, because we want to lock up the one seed in the district, and I think tonight was a statement game to let everybody know that we’re not overrated or anything,” Morton said.
While there are a lot of expectations, there’s also the realization after last season’s state tournament was canceled that it could be derailed again. So, the Cardinals are just trying to enjoy the time together they have.
“I really don’t feel pressure,” Morton said. “We just want to go out there and play and win basketball games.”
Morton had 19 of his points in the first half, including a halftime buzzer-beating three-pointer that helped stall one of a couple of Montgomery County runs to get back into the game.
Senior wingman Jared Wellman scored 19 points, including five three-pointers. Point guard Aden Slone chipped in 15. The outside-in threat from Morton and Wellman also opened up 12 points for junior forward Stanley Smothers, who got many of them on easy baskets assisted by his teammates’ drives. Foul trouble for second-leading scorer Trent Edwards meant every Cardinal had to step up their game.
“I’m trying to do a little bit of everything,” Morton said. “Kick the ball to Jared, because I know he’s going to shoot it and make it. I trust him. Big Stanley, I know he’s going to make layups if I dish it to him. Aden’s a very good point guard. He’s unselfish.’
Morton also praised the play of their bench, which Coach Josh Cook said is essential to having a championship team.
“The mindset is there,” Cook said. “When you get in the driver’s seat, you’ve still got to play. Every possession’s got to matter. … You’re always going to have guys who make plays and score the most points, but we’ve got a lot of guys that are doing their job. For us to compete for a championship … those role guys are what help us win.”
Friday’s victory marked Clark County’s 12th straight over Montgomery County, including two regular-season games, a 40th District championship and the region title last year.
Clark went about it convincingly, establishing a 45-33 lead at halftime as some of Montgomery’s top players endured foul trouble. The edge grew as the game wore on, but not without a few hiccups.
The Indians were led by Hagan Harrison’s 24 points, which included three three-pointers. Harrison keyed a third quarter rally to trim the Clark edge under 10 at one point. But turnovers and fouls plagued Montgomery throughout. They committed 20 turnovers in the game and standout guard Rickey Lovette was limited by foul trouble after picking up three in the first half. He finished with 13 points. JT Woosley added 16.
The small Montgomery rallies were among a number of things Clark County’s Cook believed his team could improve on even in a game where they scored 95 points in 32 minutes.
“I think we have a really good basketball team, and to be a great basketball team, some of the small things we’re trying to really get onto our kids about, we’ve got to get cleaned up,” Cook said. “If we can do that, come late March or whenever it is, we’ll be ready to play and go to state.”
Highlights
This story was originally published January 9, 2021 at 9:27 AM.
