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Steubenville bounces back in big way

REBOUNDING — Steubenville’s Jorian Jones grabs a rebound while Martins Ferry’s Donovan Shrodes and DeAndre Pugh defend on Friday. (Photo by Joe Catullo)

STEUBENVILLE — The Steubenville boys basketball team is known for its ability to go on runs.

Big Red did just that against Martins Ferry, as the team started the game strong and ripped off a big run in the second half to pull away for a 72-52 victory in the second of three games at the Chuck Watt/John Nese Holiday Classic Friday night inside the Crimson Center.

Big Red led 18-5 at the end of the first quarter, but the Purple Riders battled back and tied the score in the third only to see the victors rip off a 32-11 run to break the game wide open.

“We were able to defend without fouling,” Big Red (7-1) head coach Mike Haney said. “We had 12 fouls in the first half, and three of our big guys had two each. That put us in trouble.

“Jacob Clevenger came off of the bench and gave us great minutes. He did a good job rebounding. In the second half, we played defense without fouling. We were able to create turnovers, and we were able to get out in transition.”

Once Big Red began its run in the third, the Purple Riders were unable to stop it.

“It was 33-33, and then they went on a 6-0 run,” Martins Ferry (5-2) head coach Derek Edwards said. “I called a timeout to try and stop the bleeding. They had some bench players step up and hit shots. We were not able to stop the bleeding. We had some uncharacteristic turnovers, and they were able to get out in transition. There is not a lot of teams who are going to be able to stop them when they get out in transition.

“Hats off to them. They outplayed us in the second half. They deserved to win. They had some kids step up. They are hard to defend in transition, and we made it easy for them. We are going to get back into the gym, and we are going to focus on us. We focus on us.”

Big Red had a balanced attack offensively, as only one player reached double digits. James Roundtree, who was named Steubenville’s MVP for the game, recorded a game-high 22 points to lead the way, while Calvin Bickerstaff finished with nine.

Two players reached double figures for Martins Ferry. DeAndre Pugh produced a team-high 17 points, while Logan Smith tallied 14. Pugh was named Martins Ferry’s MVP.

After the Purple Riders rallied to knot the score at 33, Big Red responded and outscored Martins Ferry 19-9 the rest of the way in the third to take a 52-42 lead into the fourth.

The Big Red run continued in the final frame, as it built a 65-44 lead, its biggest in the game. The Purple Riders never led.

Big Red scored the first four points of the game and went on to build a 13-point lead at the end of the first.

Martins Ferry began its comeback in the second. The Purple Riders outscored Big Red 21-13 in the quarter to pull within 31-26 at halftime. The visitors got as close as three points in the frame.

The Purple Riders continued their surge early in the third, and they tied the score at 33-all on a foul shot.

“We settled down,” Edwards said about what enabled his team to rally and tie the score. “We played our brand of basketball. We hit some shots. We did not have unforced turnovers, and we executed well.”

The comeback was aided by a plethora of Big Red fouls.

The Purple Riders were in the bonus with 2:53 remaining left in the first quarter. At that point, Big Red committed seven fouls, while Martins Ferry committed one.

“Coach Edwards and his staff do a great job,” Haney said. “They run a motion offense. They set a lot of screens. They play a 2-3 zone.”

Big Red fouls enabled Martins Ferry to get back into the game, but Purple Rider turnovers allowed Big Red to pull away.

“They are fast,” Edwards said. “They shot the ball well. They shot the ball from the perimeter. They are difficult to stop, especially when you hand them the ball.”

The win was an important one for Big Red after Thursday’s loss to Marlington.

“It was important,” Haney said. “It was nice not having to wait to play again. Usually, you have to wait three or four days.”

Big Red now is 7-1 all time in the Chuck Watt/John Nese Holiday Classic.

Steubenville is scheduled to play Weir High at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the road as part of a girls and boys doubleheader. There will be no jayvee games. The girls varsity game is slated to start at 6 p.m.

Martins Ferry is scheduled to play Friday night at St. Clairsville.

Big Red 72, Martins Ferry 52

Martins Ferry 5-21-16-10 — 52

Big Red 18-13-21-20 — 72

MARTINS FERRY (5-2): Olson 1 0-0 3; Hores 4 0-0 8; Shrodes 1 4-4 6; Hilson 1 0-1 2; Smith 5 3-4 14; Gruba 1 0-0 2; Pugh 5 6-12 17. TOTALS: 18, 13-21: 52.

BIG RED (7-1): Rauch 2 0-0 5; Wallace 3 0-0 6; Biasi 1 0-0 2; J. Jones 3 0-0 6; Bickerstaff 3 3-7 9; Zimmerman 3 0-0 7; Roundtree 8 6-10 22; Bracone 3 0-0 7; T. Jones 2 2-3 6; McCoy 1 0-0 2; Clevenger 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 29, 11-20; 72.

3-POINT GOALS: Martins Ferry 3 (Olson, Smith, Pugh); Big Red 3 (Rauch, Zimmerman, Bracone).

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