By Chris May
Boys Basketball Coordinator
LAFAYETTE – Dealing with a difficult week, Lafayette Jeff found comfort in doing what they do best on January 25, hitting shots and beating opponents.
Following the dismissal of three seniors – including starter Blaine Koger – earlier in the week for violations of team rules, the Bronchos hit 10 three-pointers, shot 50 percent from the field, and withstood a 31-point barrage by Lafayette Central Catholic junior Dru Anthrop in notching an 87-77 win over the Knights in the spirited Lafayette battle played at the Crawley Center.
“It was a great environment out there,” Jeff coach Scot Bunnell remarked. “I thought it was a great crowd, a great atmosphere and those are the games that kids love to play in.”
“When you play these guys you don’t have to do much to get the guys up for it,” said Central Catholic coach Dave Barrett. “The rivalry brings it out of them.”
A big key to the effort and outcome for Jeff was sophomore Roddy Richardson. Taking the starting spot of Koger, Richardson hit 3 three-pointers in the first four minutes of the game, giving the Bronchos a lead they never relinquished.
Central Catholic committed four turnovers on their first four possessions, while the hosts scored the first eight points. After Richardson’s third trey, Jeff led 17-8, setting the tone.
“We faced a little adversity this week, losing Koger, so we had to play some different kids and play some different lineups,” Bunnell said.
“Roddy Richardson was the kid that we moved into the starting lineup and he came out and hit those three threes and I think that told everybody ‘we’re going to be okay’, it relaxed and settled everybody down.”
With Richardson soothing Jeff’s concerns, Central Catholic junior Dru Anthrop led his team.
Anthrop scored the Knights’ first three field goals and scored eight points in the first quarter as Central Catholic closed within two, 22-20, at the end of the first.
Anthrop added seven points in the second quarter and hit two game-tying baskets as the Knights tied the game three times in the later portions of the half. But proving their depth of scoring, Jeff had six players – all of their varsity players with the exception of first quarter hero Roddy Richardson – score in the period and held a 44-40 halftime advantage.
The Bronchos started the third quarter with more scoring diversity and again with an outside-in approach. In succession, a Jesse Berry three, a Broderick Lewis dunk, and another three by Joe Gamble gave Jeff their largest lead, 52-40 forcing a Central Catholic timeout.
“It’s tough,” Barrett stated. “There were certain guys we were going to let shoot and those were some of the guys that hit three or four of them.”
“You can’t guard them all out there, but then again you’ve got to guard them all out there. And when you get out on them they take it to the hole.”
Central Catholic got as close as five with 5:51 left in the game, but Jeff – the fourth most potent offense in the state – kept scoring and won by a 10-point margin.
5’10 junior guard Brandon Williams paced the winners with 21, scoring 13 of them in the fourth quarter.
“He showed a lot of maturity because he went through foul trouble and he had to fight through that,” Bunnell said.
Williams picked up his fourth foul with 3:16 left in the third quarter.
“He’s used to playing 30 or 32 minutes a game (and played 23 tonight). I thought he did a good job, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Roddy Richardson scored 17, Jesse Berry finished with 15, and Broderick Lewis scored 12 points and got eight rebounds.
“I couldn’t have been prouder of the effort,” Bunnell said. “We got broke down a lot defensively, we gave up a lot of easy baskets, but ultimately I thought we showed a lot of toughness and had good concentration tonight.”
Anthrop finished with a game-high 31 points, keeping his team in the game.
“He understands the game,” Barrett said. “He understands what the defense is trying to do and he knows how to slash and back-cut and get an easy layup or take his man off the dribble and use his body, he just has a knack for doing that.”
Anthrop’s senior brother Jade scored 15, while Daniel Mills had 14 and 6’9” center Cameron Leopker finished with nine points.
“I think they always play great against us and I thought they played great tonight,” Bunnell said of LCC. “Give them some credit they’ve got a chance of going a long way in the tournament.”
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