Bob Jones picks up first win of the season over Grissom
Demontrez Brown (21) goes up over Grissom players for basket (Record Photo/Jeannee Gannuch)
MADISON- Bob Jones coach Luther Tiggs said he wasn’t going to judge his team by wins and losses but Friday night he was ecstatic with a 39-32 win over Grissom.
Tiggs has the Patriots playing better than anyone expected.
They took Austin to overtime Tuesday night then dominated the second half against a bigger Grissom team to claim Tiggs’ first win at Bob Jones.
“It’s very encouraging especially against a quality opponent,” Tiggs said. “This will help us when we start area play. Our guys have competed, played hard, and when you do that good things happen. I’m proud of all eleven players. All of them got on the floor tonight and contributed.”
Tiggs started Trey Graham, Deonte Gray, Jaydon Hill, Chase Fiddler, and Demontrez Brown.
Grissom pounded the offensive glass and led early but there were signs this was a different style of play for Bob Jones than years past.
Bob Jones pushed the basketball after rebounds at every opportunity.
“Grissom tried to slow us down by double teaming the rebound but we did a good job of protecting the rebound and if we could get the outlet we had numbers on the other end. That’s how we like to play,” Tiggs said.
The fast breaks were not always successful but they were exciting for the fans.
TD Farris was called for charging as the first quarter ended with Grissom up 12-4. He drew another charging foul in the second quarter.
Chase Fiddler scored Bob Jones’ first fast break points on a short jumper to put the Patriots up 13-12 with one minute left in the second quarter.
Demontrez Brown showed he will be a force inside by scoring four points to close the first half in style and a Bob Jones one point lead.
Tiggs got quality minutes from Milkyle Stewart who hit the game’s only three point basket to put Bob Jones up 23-18. The Patriots never trailed again.
Brown blocked a Grissom shot and Trey Graham went coast-to-coast on a fast break as Bob Jones stretched the lead to 31-23. Stewart scored on an offensive rebound to give Bob Jones their biggest lead at 36-26.
Fiddler wrapped up the scoring with a layup.
Fiddler finished with 7 points, Brown and Stewart each had 8, and Jaydon Hill had 6 including 4 of 4 free throws in the fourth quarter.
Brown and Stewart joined the team two weeks late due to football but both are playing at a high level.
“He has been a pleasant surprise,” Tiggs said of Brown. “We count on him for rebounding and scoring around the basket. He and several others are not in basketball shape yet and that’s why I did a lot of substituting.”
