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News and Tribune
December 13, 2011
H.S. GIRLS' BASKETBALL: GROWING PAINS
Jeff continues to struggle in 70-52 loss to South Oldham
By MATT KOESTERS
[email]Matt.Koesters@newsandtribune.com[/email]

JEFFERSONVILLE — The defending Class 4A IHSAA state champion Jeffersonville girls’ basketball team continues to struggle with inexperience.

The Red Devils coughed up the ball nine times in the first quarter, conceded a seven-point lead at the first stop and couldn’t get back in the game as they fell to South Oldham, 70-52 on Tuesday at William S. Johnson Arena.

“We’re still growing. We’re still learning,” Jeff coach Jana Costner said. “I think that they have to believe in each other. Not only in themselves, but they have to believe in their teammates. That’s something that we’re working on, just believing in each other.”

The team’s veteran leaders, seniors Lakin Roland and LaVada Roberson, showed that they’re still the same players that packed the trophy case last season. Roland had 11 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds and five assists, while Roberson scrapped for eight points, two assists and two steals.

“I felt that Lakin did a great job of directing her teammates to the places they needed to go,” Costner said.

But the rest of the team still has a long way to go.

Jeff (1-6) struggled to make good passes on offense and allowed South seniors Jasmine Whitfield and Mary Dye to chew it up in the paint on defense. Whitfield finished with a game-high 21 points, while Dye added 13, including a 9-for-11 performance at the free-throw line.

“With turnovers, we have to have patience on offense,” Costner said. “We have to learn how to use ball fakes. We can’t telegraph all of our passes. That’s the main thing. We know the plays, it’s just a matter of doing the extra things, like a ball fake, to get the defense off track.”

Overall, the Dragons (4-1) were 23-of-26 at the charity stripe, while Jeff was only 9-of-14, with most of the attempts coming late in the game by sophomore Haley Vogen.

After a Roland bucket to open the scoring in the contest, the Dragons responded with a 13-0 tear to leave Jeffersonville in its dust. The Red Devils would rally for a 6-0 run that straddled the first and second quarters. But the home team played from behind virtually the entire contest.

The closest the Red Devils got back into the game was late in the second quarter when Roberson intercepted an errant pass and took it all the way to the other end for a successful three-point play to make the South Oldham lead 26-22.

There were a few bright spots to be found for the Red Devils. Diminutive freshman Chelsea Lewis scored six points, grabbed two boards and nabbed a steal in limited playing time, going toe-to-toe with the much taller Whitfield and Dye on the offensive glass.

“Her main job tonight was to do defense. But if you play hard, you get rewarded on offense,” Costner said.

Jeffersonville will host Corydon on Thursday.



S. OLDHAM 15 15 17 23—70

JEFF 8 14 17 13—52

South Oldham (4-1) — Wright 8, Gamsky 9, Whitfield 21, Dye 13, Housley 16, Mullins 3.

Jeffersonville (1-6) — Marshall 4, Roberson 8, Vogen 17, Roland 11, Gray 3, Lewis 6, Ford 3.

3-point field goals — South Oldham 6 (Wright 2, Gamsky 3, Mullins); Jeffersonville 1 (Roberson).

Free throws — South Oldham 23-26, Jeffersonville 9-14.

Turnovers — South Oldham 17, Jeffersonville 27.

Rebounds — South Oldham 17 (Dye 7), Jeffersonville 24 (Roland 8).

Steals — South Oldham 11 (Housley 4), Jeffersonville 3 (Roberson 2).

Fouls — South Oldham 10, Jeffersonville 17.