Rensselaer Drops A Bomb On The Nest!

One thing is for certain in our world of uncertainty. When North Judson and Rensselaer compete against each other in any sport, any time of the year, it…is….INTENSE!

Such was the case on Friday night when the Bluejays hosted the Bombers in a boys basketball competition. The Bluejays had been reeling from a two game stretch in which the fell in close competition to South Central in overtime and Winamac by just six points. On the flip side, the Bombers entered The Nest on Friday suffering from a seven game losing stretch, after being forced into nearly a month’s break, due to Covid-19, having started out the season 2-0. The two teams just wanted to get out and compete, and that’s exactly what they did.

The first half would belong to the Bluejays as North Judson would see 6’5 Sophomore forward Kelson Jordan explode for ten points, including two made three-point shots, forcing the Bombers defense to stretch out a little bit farther than what they were comfortable with. Not to be outdone, Rensselaer would rely heavily on 6’4 Junior forward Tate Drone, who would proved consistent scoring on the interior from start to finish. When the horn sounded to end the first quarter of play, the ‘Jays held a slim three point lead at twenty to seven. Perhaps the biggest feather in the cap of the Bluejays would be having only committed a single turnover in the first quarter. Things would start to lean more so in the direction of North Judson in the second quarter, as Jordan and Junior teammate Blayne Wilcox would continue to consistently score, helping the Bluejays outscore the Bombers fifteen to six in the second quarter to take a thirty-five to twenty-three lead into halftime. A big reason for the double-digit halftime lead for North Judson was due, in large part, to the rebounding battle, which the bluejays won convincingly in the first half, out-rebounding Rensselaer seventeen to eight.

Defense would be the name of the game in the second half, as the Bombers turned up the heat on the ‘Jays. Rensselaer would force North Judson into seven third quarter turnovers, while outscoring them twenty-two to twelve in the third quarter, nearly equalling their total scoring output from the entire first half. Drone continued to be “Mr. Consistency” for the Bombers as he put in another twelve points throughout the third and fourth quarters, giving him a game-high twenty-four. Teammate Josh Flemming would come alive, from a scoring standpoint, in a major way in the second half. After having only scored two points in the first half, Flemming would explode for thirteen second half points, including two made three-point shots, while also going a perfect seven-for-seven at the free throw line!

The final quarter would show much of the same, as the Bombers’ defense continued to apply pressure on the Bluejays, forcing them into two more turnovers in the third quarter, while outscoring the ‘Jays eighteen to seven. Wilcox, would be the bright spot in the scoring column for North Judson, as he put up ten of his team-high eighteen points in the second half. Rensselaer would be able to work the clock in the latter stages of the game, on their way to a sixty-three to fifty-four win, snapping their seven game losing streak!

In his postgame interview following the tough loss, North Judson Head Coach Kent Chezem tried his best to put on a positive face.

“We had a good first half” Chezem said. “Shot the ball well, moved the ball well. I thought we took good shots. We had a chance to be up more. We didn’t play with any poise in the second half. We looked young and inexperienced. We had a bunch of guys working well together and then it just fell apart”.

Ecstatic about his team’s victory, Rensselaer Head Coach Chad Pulver was very pleased with his team’s effort on the defensive end of the floor.

“I think it started for us at the defensive end. I think we put them in some positions they didn’t like and our guys are pretty aggressive. So when we got a hand on the ball we really swarmed. That’s the best we’ve looked all season long” Pulver continued, “Tiede-Souza really had a nice game for us. Brought energy, was able to get his hands on the ball, created some opportunities for himself. I felt like Flemming continued to push the issue, found ways to score, but defensively became a spark plug. Tate Drone on the inside did a really nice job of being able to catch, finish, and grab some big rebounds for us”.

The Starke County Co-Op Play of the Game on WKVI came in the fourth quarter with 6:16 remaining, when Tommy Boyles scored on a layup to give the Bombers the lead at 49-48, which was the last lead change of the game.

The Ashley Derrickson/Five Star Player of the Game on WKVI went to Rensselaer Junior Tate Drone, who scored twelve points in each half on his way to twenty-four points, while also pulling down five rebounds, and pulling away two steals in his team’s come from behind win!

The Bluejays have no time to dwell on the loss as they have to take on another huge opponent this evening, when they play host to the Knox Redskins. The Bombers will be back at it tonight when they host the West Central Trojans.

Game Statistics

Scoring

Rensselaer(63): Josh Flemming-15, Jacoby Tiede-Souza-8, Colby Chapman-10, Brody Chamness-2, Tate Drone-24, Tommy Boyles-2, Cassius Pulver-2

NJSP(54): Kelson Jordan-10, Blayne Wilcox-18, Trey Hampton-2, Kason Sanchez-10, Payton Cox-6, Cheyenne Allen-8

Mad 3-Point Shots

Rensselaer(5): Josh Flemming-2, Jacoby Tiede-Souza-1, Colby Chapman-2

NJSP(4): Kelson Jordan-2, Blayne Wilcox-1, Cheyenne Allen-1

Rebounding

NJSP(27): Kelson Jordan-3, Blayne Wilcox-9, Kason Sanchez-2, Payton Cox-6, Ty Schumacher-1, Cheyenne Allen-6

Rensselaer(20): Josh Flemming-2, Jacoby Tiede-Souza-3, Colby Chapman-4, Brody Chamness-1, Tate Drone-5, Tommy Boyles-3, Cassius Pulver-2

Steals

Rensselaer(7): Josh Flemming-1, Jacoby Tiede-Souza-2, Colby Chapman-1, Brody Chamness-1, Tate Drone-2

NJSP(5): Blayne Wilcox-1, Kason Sanchez-1, Payton Cox-1, Cheyenne Allen-2

*Statistical Information In This Article Provided By Kankakee Valley Broadcasting Staff. These Are Not Official Game Statistics*