The Gibson Southern Titans boys’ junior varsity team faced off against the Evansville North Huskies on December 16. 

“Early on I thought we brought some energy to the game,” head coach Mark Monroe said. “We were able to make baskets, and we converted on a few things.” 

The Titans jumped out to a quick lead fueled by sophomore guard Noah Bryant going 3 for 3 on three pointers in the first quarter. 

“I thought in the first half we started off good, and continued to play well throughout the first half,” Bryant said. 

The Huskies answered quickly against the scoring, answering with two three pointers and three transition layups. 

¨We just had to start realizing that once we got back on defense, and just kind of stopped their transition offense, and make them run their sets instead of pushing the ball up the court,” sophomore forward Mason Yancey said. “That helped us to go on a run.”

Despite being outsized against the Huskies, the Titans continued to hang throughout the first half, answering their quick scoring. The Titans accumulated four over-the-back fouls, taking advantage of their ability to block out. The Titans kept up their defense and ended the first half leading 24-20. 

“I was a little frustrated in our ability to run certain parts of our offense, with that being said we came back out the second half, and did not come out with the same kind of energy and intensity that we needed to finish off the game,” Monroe said.

The Titans were not able to combat the full court press applied by the huskies in the second half, being shut down to only three points in the third quarter.

̈Gradually we got worse as the game went on, and we weren’t able to finish off what we had,” Bryant said. “We had a lead at half time, and toward the end of the game we ended up blowing it.”

The Titans had no answer for the Huskies overpowering size and athleticism, being outscored 11-25 in the second half. The Titans ended up losing the game 37-45. 

The JV boys will face off against the South Spencer Rebels at home on Friday December 19.