Pressing the Applemen
Kalen Nehler scores in Jefferson’s second win of the season over Musselman. The Cougars sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
SHENANDOAH JUNCTION— After holding only a one-point lead after three quarters, Jefferson ignited a scoring binge with a fullcourt press that sealed its 77-60 win over Musselman on February 7.
In the fourth stanza, Jefferson was able to outscore the troubled Applemen by 16 points to salt away its second win in 11 days over Musselman.
Musselman turnovers and a flurry of Jefferson points from Garrett Grantham, Michael King, Billy Kontos, Kahlen Nehler, and Aaron Stottlemyer pushed Musselman out of contention in a matter of four minutes.
The Jefferson lead mushroomed on the wings of a 23-7 run of Cougar points that jumped a scant 54-53 lead to 77-60 at the very end. Jefferson had only a one-point lead as late as the 4:55 mark of the fourth quarter.
Grantham made all six of his free throws in the huge Jefferson move. He was 9-for-9 for the game as Jefferson made good use of the foul line, going 11-for-11 as a team.
King connected on two long-range field goals in the Jefferson scoring spree.
Jefferson had evened its overall record at 10-10 with its favorable field goal percentage and the balanced scoring from Grantham (23 points), King (12 points), Nehler (12 points), Kontos (eight points), Stottlemyer (eight points), Josh Dudley (five points), and Rynal Newman (five points).
Grantham had eight rebounds and Stottlemyer had six rebounds. Dudley was credited with eight assists and Grantham with seven.
Musselman went to 6-11 overall and got 20 points (8-for-8 free throws) from Hargrove and 10 points from Trevon Wesco. The Applemen made 15-of-20 free throws.
Jefferson had wrecked the Applemen with a similar press when it won in Inwood.
