On Tuesday night, Manual’s varsity boys basketball team outscored Jeffersontown High School 79-75, marking the Crimsons’ first win of the season. The game was also their home opener.
First Half:
The game started out with Manual getting the ball after the tip off. Then, Justice Decker (#1,12) scored the first point of the night for Manual from a rebound.
Jeffersontown was quick to take back the ball and score their first points, however.
Manual’s Decker then got the ball again and dunked on a Jeffersontown player. (He had another dunk later on in the game, as well.)
Jeffersontown fouled Malachi Coleman (#3, 12) who went to the free throw line and made both of his shots.
“I just wanted to start the game strong and impose our will from the start,” Coleman said.
Jeffersontown’s Jeremiah Sloss (#21, 11) then got past the Crimson’s defense for two points.
Calvin Nichols (#0, 12) for Jeffersontown then ran down the court and made a layup. This made the score 12-10, with Jeffersontown in the lead.
Manual’s Decker and Coleman both got fouled and made their free throws. This brought the score up to 19-12, with Manual in the lead.
Then, after Manual’s William Thompson (#30, 10) made a three-point shot, Jeffersontown took the ball down the court for another attempted layup. The layup was ultimately blocked by Decker, though.
Both Manual and Jeffersontown made several shots following the next few minutes bringing the score to 26-25, with Manual barely ahead.
Later on, Decker made a three-point shot, while Jeffersontown’s Damere Clark (#2, 11) made it through the Crimsons’ defense, scoring a layup. The score was then 35-30, with Manual still holding onto their lead.
Both teams then made three point shots to end the first half, with Noah Smith (#2, 12) shooting the three-pointer, giving Manual the edge over Jeffersontown.
Manual led Jeffersontown heading into halftime, 40-37.
Second Half:
The second half of the game started out with a two-pointer by Manual’s Smith.
Manual’s Coleman made a layup, then took the ball back from Jeffersontown and made another successful shot.
Then, Manual’s Smith and Coleman made a block on Jeffersontown, allowing the ball to land back to the Crimsons.
Decker then took the opportunity to score another shot for Manual. Manual’s lead increased to 49-40.
Later, Manual’s Decker and Mark Woods (#15, 11) made free throws after getting fouled. Coleman then rebounded one of the free throws and scored a three point shot for the Crimsons.
Smith then made another basket from a layup. Decker immediately got the ball back from Jeffersontown after, and went back down the court to make a layup for Manual. The score was then 60-46, with Manual in the lead.
Decker then made his second three-point shot of the night, with Smith following right behind for another three pointer.
Jeffersontown then fouled the Crimsons again. Decker took those free throws, making Manual’s lead 75-62.
Before the end of the game, Jeffersontown’s Joseph Jones (#10, 10) made a three-point shot. His attempt brought the Chargers team closer to the Crimsons’ score, but it still wasn’t enough.
“We had good energy and played hard, we just have to work on our execution more,” Coleman said.
But even so, the home opener ended with a Crimson win of 79-75.
“This team, once they get together, we’re going to have a better year than we had last year and that [will] shock a lot of people,” head coach Miquel Coleman said.
Manual’s next game is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Moore High School.
