Brad Loon and Sean Fry steer Jay past Wiscasset.
JAY – The 2003 portion of the high school basketball schedule was more of a “getting to know you” phase for the Jay Tigers. Now that 2004 is well under way, the Tigers have clearly learned enough about each other.
Jay dominated Thursday night’s MVC matchup with Wiscasset from the second quarter on and rolled to a 68-44 win. Brad Loon led the Tigers with 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Sean Fry added 15 points.
“The kids played well. They knew we were getting into a tough stretch with Wiscasset tonight and Georges Valley Saturday, then Boothbay and Telstar next week,” said Jay coach Mike Child, whose team improved to 9-2. “We need to play together and we’re coming together.”
Jay entered the second quarter with a one-point lead, then outscored Wiscasset 20-4 in the period. Loon, who lost his starting roll last week to Fry, a transfer student from South Carolina, sparked the Tigers off the bench with seven points in the quarter.
“Whatever is better for the team. I’ll do whatever it takes,” Loon said. “We’ve just got to win. That’s all we’re worried about.”
The Tigers played outstanding defense in the second quarter. They started the game man-to-man and then a triangle-and-two to combat Conrad Griffin (17 points), the Redskins’ standout swingman. But Wiscasset exploited those defenses with dribble penetration, so Jay went to a zone which not only held Griffin scoreless in the second quarter but limited the Redskins to just one field goal on 10 attempts and forced nine turnovers in the period.
Wiscasset (5-7) finally started to heat up from the field in the third quarter, allowing it to set up its press to try to get back in the game. Didn’t happen, as the Tigers sliced through the pressure with some precision passing by Justin Wells and Ryan DiPompo (four assists apiece).
“Other teams are trying to find out if they can press us, and I think they’re finding out that they can’t,” Child said. “I’m not saying we have all of the answers, but we do have some answers, and we scored some pretty easy baskets off their press.”
Led by Loon (seven points) and Fry (six points), Jay shot 10-for-15 in the quarter and inflated its 17-point halftime lead to 23.
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