By Cary Stemle
The black-and-gold clad Jasper Wildcats brought a scrappy squad into the Doghouse on Saturday night, catching New Albany napping on defense several times in the early going. But as is the case most nights, and particularly at this point of the schedule, the visitors simply couldn’t match up with the Bulldogs on the offensive end. The result was another onslaught of points and an 87-44 win that ran New Albany’s record to 14-1. Jasper fell to 7-6.
Julien Hunter picked up where he left off in Friday’s win over Evansville North, when all of his 12 points came in the second half. He scored the Bulldogs’ first basket and six of their first nine points, including a two-handed dunk off a nice dish from a driving Romeo Langford.
Perhaps feeling coach Jim Shannon’s wrath, Langford took over in the second quarter, scoring 16 of his 22 first-half points and propelling New Albany to a 48-23 lead at the break. He went to the bench with 38 after draining a deep three in the fourth quarter. Sean East added 23 points for New Albany, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Hunter finished with 10 and Trey Hourigan added 8.
Langford had another epic dunk, posterizing a 5-foot-9 junior guard named Josh Weidenbenner who had the misfortune of being in the way as Langord came thundering to the hoop in the first half.
Romeo Langford just caught a BODY 😵 @yeahyeah_22 @NewAlbanyHoops pic.twitter.com/q1eNGk2tpa
— Overtime (@overtime) January 28, 2018
Shannon chastised his star early on for defensive lapses.
“They were running that back screen (on the baseline) … and once or twice I thought his man set it and they went around and got a layup. … I look for ways to push his buttons a little bit. At the beginning of the game I just thought he didn’t seem to have that pep in his step like I usually see him have, so I thought, ‘I’m just gonna get on him a little bit,’ and he didn’t like it, but he started firing them in. Whatever it takes (smiles). It wasn’t that he was doing anything wrong (but) I just think as he goes, we go. If he brings energy at the beginning of the game, we’re a lot better. And so, I was just trying to get him and the team going.”
Shannon continued on the theme of pushing players in games were they know they’re better than their opponents.
“It’s like, ‘We can take off anytime we want — so what if they get a couple baskets?’ That’s the mentality of most kids when they know they’re more talented, but it’s dangerous because you’re not always gonna be better than the other team. So if you allow them not to do the little things tonight, then they’ll cry when they don’t do the little things when it’s a two-point game in the tournament, because you haven’t made them do it.”
Shannon showed his ire after Langford appeared to get mugged on a breakaway that ended with a turnover, taking a few steps onto the floor and loudly voicing his displeasure to the officials. Afterwards, he admitted it was largely for effect.
“I was just trying to protect him,” Shannon said of Langford. “I always see his jersey (moving) and I’m thinking, ‘Is that thing coming out on its own?’ I remember back 100 years ago when I played and I couldn’t guard people, I’d grab a hold of their shirt, too. I’m just trying to protect him. The refereeing is fine.”
Shannon said he’ll give his team an off day on Monday and a shorter practice Tuesday before they hit the road for a Thursday night conference game at Jennings County (6-11). The Dogs are back home two days later for a 2 p.m. tilt against Columbus East (8-6).
“That’ll give them a lot of rest, and they need it,” Shannon said.
