JUDA - After Juda junior Joey Jordan was a catalyst in the football team's run to the state championship game, he's confident that anything is possible on the hardwood.
Jordan scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Panthers to a 48-39 win over Pecatonica in the Six Rivers East Conference opener for both teams Thursday night. With the win, Juda improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 Six Rivers East.
"It's a blast," Jordan said of winning the conference opener. "We just have to do what coach says and try to trust each other. We can pull off anything we want to do."
The Panthers used an 18-5 run from the third quarter into the fourth to take a commanding 11-point lead. The spurt was highlighted by two jumpers from junior Brandon Bauman, a 3-pointer by Dylan Bauman, and Jordan's layup on the break that gave the Panthers a 35-24 lead. Brandon Bauman scored 14 points and Dylan Bauman added 10.
"I think the big thing is we definitely dealt with some adversity," Juda coach Kyle Krueger said. "Not only did we have some foul trouble, but we dealt with one of the most physical games I have been a part of. They have learned how to compete and how to finish in the end."
Pecatonica (0-3, 0-1) went through more than a six minute scoring drought. However, the Vikings didn't go away quietly. Pecatonica junior J.J. Hogan knocked down a jumper with 4:53 left in the third quarter to snap the cold spell. Pecatonica junior Karson Feller drilled a 3-pointer with 2:47 to go that sliced the Panthers' lead to 38-32, but that's as close as the Vikings would get.
"Every game is a big game in conference," Pecatonica coach Kevin Parman said. "They have to protect their home court just like everyone else does. It's always a tough place to play."
The Panthers shot 23 free throws and made 8 of 12 foul shots in the final 2:37 to seal the win.
"They did an outstanding job of knocking down free throws," Parman said. "You have to do the little things. We missed some bunnies and it snowballed on us."
Krueger said the Panthers have been averaging about 23 free throws a game.
"That's been our story all year," Krueger said of the Panthers ability to get to the free throw line. "We just need to make a high percentage of them. We hit enough of them to keep a little distance between us. I think it will only get better."
Both teams struggled and got off to tough starts in the first quarter. The Vikings had as many turnovers (seven) as points in the first quarter. The Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a jumper by Brandon Bauman and basket by Jordan. Pecatonica junior Wyatt Massey drilled a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a short lived 5-4 lead.
Dylan Bauman hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter that gave the Panthers an 11-7 lead. Pecatonica senior Josh Hendrickson buried a 3 and senior Tannar Johnson hit a jumper to slice the Panthers' lead to 13-12. Despite committing nine of their 17 turnovers in the first half, the Vikings led 19-17 at halftime after senior Jesse Mabin's buzzer-beating jumper. Johnson scored 12 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Vikings.
The Panthers used a 2-3 zone throughout the game.
"We couldn't afford to guard them on an island because we were in foul trouble," Krueger said. "We played with some different combinations of guys out there. It may not have been our best lineup, but we showed we could win with it. Hopefully, it will give us some confidence going into the next one."
Jordan believed there were several keys to the 18-5 second half spurt.
"We kept our composure," he said. "We didn't rush. We kept it slow and pushed it when we could and played smart."
Pecatonica is in the middle of a tough stretch that includes hosting Barneveld and playing non-conference games at Potosi and Darlington.
"They don't get any easier," Parman said. "We are young. We are playing the best teams right away. As a team we have to stay together. We can't start getting after each other. We have to learn on the run from this."
Jordan scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Panthers to a 48-39 win over Pecatonica in the Six Rivers East Conference opener for both teams Thursday night. With the win, Juda improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 Six Rivers East.
"It's a blast," Jordan said of winning the conference opener. "We just have to do what coach says and try to trust each other. We can pull off anything we want to do."
The Panthers used an 18-5 run from the third quarter into the fourth to take a commanding 11-point lead. The spurt was highlighted by two jumpers from junior Brandon Bauman, a 3-pointer by Dylan Bauman, and Jordan's layup on the break that gave the Panthers a 35-24 lead. Brandon Bauman scored 14 points and Dylan Bauman added 10.
"I think the big thing is we definitely dealt with some adversity," Juda coach Kyle Krueger said. "Not only did we have some foul trouble, but we dealt with one of the most physical games I have been a part of. They have learned how to compete and how to finish in the end."
Pecatonica (0-3, 0-1) went through more than a six minute scoring drought. However, the Vikings didn't go away quietly. Pecatonica junior J.J. Hogan knocked down a jumper with 4:53 left in the third quarter to snap the cold spell. Pecatonica junior Karson Feller drilled a 3-pointer with 2:47 to go that sliced the Panthers' lead to 38-32, but that's as close as the Vikings would get.
"Every game is a big game in conference," Pecatonica coach Kevin Parman said. "They have to protect their home court just like everyone else does. It's always a tough place to play."
The Panthers shot 23 free throws and made 8 of 12 foul shots in the final 2:37 to seal the win.
"They did an outstanding job of knocking down free throws," Parman said. "You have to do the little things. We missed some bunnies and it snowballed on us."
Krueger said the Panthers have been averaging about 23 free throws a game.
"That's been our story all year," Krueger said of the Panthers ability to get to the free throw line. "We just need to make a high percentage of them. We hit enough of them to keep a little distance between us. I think it will only get better."
Both teams struggled and got off to tough starts in the first quarter. The Vikings had as many turnovers (seven) as points in the first quarter. The Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a jumper by Brandon Bauman and basket by Jordan. Pecatonica junior Wyatt Massey drilled a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a short lived 5-4 lead.
Dylan Bauman hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter that gave the Panthers an 11-7 lead. Pecatonica senior Josh Hendrickson buried a 3 and senior Tannar Johnson hit a jumper to slice the Panthers' lead to 13-12. Despite committing nine of their 17 turnovers in the first half, the Vikings led 19-17 at halftime after senior Jesse Mabin's buzzer-beating jumper. Johnson scored 12 points and had nine rebounds to lead the Vikings.
The Panthers used a 2-3 zone throughout the game.
"We couldn't afford to guard them on an island because we were in foul trouble," Krueger said. "We played with some different combinations of guys out there. It may not have been our best lineup, but we showed we could win with it. Hopefully, it will give us some confidence going into the next one."
Jordan believed there were several keys to the 18-5 second half spurt.
"We kept our composure," he said. "We didn't rush. We kept it slow and pushed it when we could and played smart."
Pecatonica is in the middle of a tough stretch that includes hosting Barneveld and playing non-conference games at Potosi and Darlington.
"They don't get any easier," Parman said. "We are young. We are playing the best teams right away. As a team we have to stay together. We can't start getting after each other. We have to learn on the run from this."
