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JV boys’ basketball puts on a show against Seneca

William Thompson (#30, 10) dribbles the ball towards the basket.
William Thompson (#30, 10) dribbles the ball towards the basket.
Katie Dikes

On Thursday night, Manual’s JV boys’ basketball team beat the Seneca Redhawks 56-44 after an intense back-and-forth first half filled with a multitude of field goals and next-level defense. 

First Half:

To start the game, Seneca got the ball following the tipoff and immediately scored a layup. Manual got the ball and on their first possession, attempted a shot, but missed. Seneca followed Manual’s attempt with their first three-pointer of the game. 

Dario Harper (#1, 9) then made a one-handed layup, getting fouled in the process. However, Harper missed the free throw. Seneca followed Manual’s first score of the night with another three-pointer. At this point, Seneca led the Crimsons 10-2. 

Shortly afterward, Seneca made yet another three-pointer. Manual, now down 13-2, called a timeout to try and regroup. 

Following this, Manual’s Jeremiah Stephens (#21, 10) successfully shot a layup following a steal. Manual was able to score again following their first three-pointer of the night by Ethan Dyer (#4, 10). Seneca was called for a foul, but Malachi Towns (#2, 10) missed both free throws. Then, Manual’s defense blocked a Seneca shot, allowing the Crimsons to pass the ball back down the floor to score. 

A few plays later, Manual’s William Thompson (#30, 10) scored a three-pointer with Dyer following Thompson for another Crimson three-pointer. 

At this point, Manual was on a 13-point run. As a result, Seneca, who was sensing a lot of Crimson momentum, called a time-out. The score was 15-13, with Manual in the lead for the first time. 

Following the timeout, Seneca shot and scored a layup following a lot of back-and-forth running on the court. With only a few seconds left in the first quarter, Seneca was able to rebound the ball following an attempted shot, but Towns stole the ball and passed to Thompson who attempted a three-pointer and missed just as the buzzer sounded. The score was tied, 15-15. 

“We got off to a slow start, but once we changed our energy and attention to detail, that’s when we actually picked it up. We [had] some guys come in from off the bench to give us a good boost,” said head coach Dion Flippins. 

To start the second quarter, Seneca scored following a clean layup. Manual attempted and missed another three-pointer, and though Leslie Hall (#20, 10) got the rebound, Seneca somehow managed to get the ball back and score another field goal. The Redhawks, now on a run of their own, led Manual 19-15. 

However, Stephens was able to score off of a layup and make two free throws due to a Seneca foul. Jalen Outten (#25, 9) also scored a layup. Following a Seneca miss, Towns quickly passed the ball back to Outten, who scored another two-pointer. A play later, Hall shot a three-pointer. Manual then stole the ball following Seneca’s repossession. A foul was called on Seneca, and Outten went to the line, making both of his free throws. 

Following this, Seneca scored another field goal following a scoring drought. The Redhawks quickly got the ball back after the basket, but the ball was blocked by Outten, allowing Manual to gain possession. Jesiah Flippins (#5, 9) then shot a layup, and Thompson finished off the half with a three-pointer. 

Though the score was tied yet again during the second quarter, Manual’s momentum gave them much-needed confidence on both sides of the ball. They now led Seneca, 33-21. 

Second Half:

To start the second half, Hall scored a layup and was fouled in the process. He made his free throw following the call. Seneca answered, though, with a layup of their own. However, Flippins responded with a three-pointer. A short while later, Stephens was fouled, giving Manual the ball. Seneca was granted a foul of their own after a successful layup. Hall then scored another layup. 

At this point, the score was now 41-28, with Manual still leading with a little under three minutes left in the third quarter. Seneca kept up the pace, though, scoring off of a three-pointer and a huge dunk. The Redhawks also scored following a layup. Sensing Seneca was gaining momentum, the Crimsons called a time-out. Following a 30-second break, Seneca scored another field goal with a layup with only a few seconds left in the quarter.

Manual was not able to make another play, and at the end of the third quarter, Manual only led Seneca by four points, 41-37.

To start the fourth quarter, Stephens pushed past two Seneca defenders to make the layup and draw a foul. Though he missed the free throw, Towns rebounded the ball and Flippins was able to score off of a three-pointer. A few plays later, Stephens scored another two-pointer. 

Hall was then fouled and after missing his first free throw, Manual called a timeout to regroup. At this point, Manual now led Seneca by a greater margin, 48-30. Hall then missed his second free throw, and though the ball was rebounded by Towns, the Redhawks ultimately got the ball. 

However, Thompson helped increase the Crimsons’ lead even more with another field goal and a layup, drawing a foul in the process, where he made his free throw. 

At this point, the score was now 52-39 with a little under two minutes left in the game. A few plays later, Towns stole the ball and attempted a shot, but missed. Luckily, the ball was rebounded by Stephens, who was able to score. 

A foul was then called on Seneca, and Damauri Crosby (#23, 9) went to the line where he made one of two free throws. Seneca was then granted a foul but missed both shots. Manual was fouled again, but Rhett Stearman (#3, 9) missed both shots. Though Seneca blocked a Manual shot a play later, a foul was called on the Redhawks. 

With only a few seconds left, players let the clock run out to end the game. The Crimsons won with a final score of 56-44. 

“Our attention to detail, and then again playing with a lot of energy–we are based on playing with a lot of energy and once we play with a lot of energy, everything else comes–playing a little harder, and then executing, we just got to our principles and we were able to come out with the W,” D. Flippins said. 

The JV team’s next game will be against North Hardin on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at North Hardin. 

About the Contributor
Katie Dikes
Katie Dikes, Sports Editor

Katie Dikes is the Sports Editor for Manual RedEye. She loves to write about all things sports and enjoys going to Manual athletic events. In her spare time, she loves to listen to 80s music, watch any and everything sports-related, bake, binge Netflix, and read cheesy romance novels. You can contact her at [email protected].

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