STATE 1A DIVISION II BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: A tone-setting showing on the defensive end
CALDWELL — Defense wins championships.
And for Genesis Prep, in its first year as an Idaho High School Activities Association-sanctioned program, it got them a key victory in its state debut on Thursday.
Senior Caleb Symons had 25 points, six rebounds and four steals and freshman Jonny Hillman had 24 points and three steals for the Jaguars in a 63-45 win over the Rockland Bulldogs in the opening round of the state 1A Division II tournament on Thursday at Caldwell High.
“It was a good team win,” said second-year Genesis Prep coach Marsell Colbert, who coached the team last year in the Mountain Christian League. “Our defense definitely set the tone for us today.”
Genesis Prep (19-4) will face Council (21-3) in a semifinal game today at 12:15 p.m. PST. Council beat Carey 56-44 in its opener.
With the game tied at 27 at halftime, Genesis Prep outscored Rockland 22-6 in the third quarter to build a 49-33 lead after the quarter.
“We just made some adjustments to what they were doing,” Colbert said. “We cranked up the intensity a little bit in the second half defensively and took away what was working for them in the first half. We made them score in a different way, took away the dribble penetration and made them take more jump shots.”
Genesis Prep finished the game 25 of 50 from the field, hitting 9 of 23 from beyond the 3-point line in the game. Rockland, which advanced to the championship game last season, shot 19 of 49. The Bulldogs were 14-2 against Division II opponents entering the game.
“We did a better job of closing out on them and getting a hand up on shots in the second half,” Colbert said. “In the first half, I don’t think we did a good job of closing out on their shooters, but made the adjustment and made some shots.”
Hillman finished the game 9 for 11 from the field, hitting 4 of 6 3-pointers and finishing with two assists.
“Jonny, he’s a freshman, but he’s been around the game a long time,” Colbert said. “He’s got a high basketball IQ and was very patient with the ball today. He knows he can shoot the ball and knows when to attack the basket. And that’s what makes him a tough guy to guard.”
Symons went 11 of 18 from the field with three assists.
“He got his points in a variety of ways,” said Colbert of Symons. “He’s dialed in right now, and when he’s that way, he can fill it up.”
Spencer Permann scored 13 points for Rockland, which faces Carey in a loser-out game tonight at 5:15.
“Rockland came out and executed their game plan really well in the first half and got some good looks at the basket,” Colbert said. “In the second half, we made some adjustments and kept doing the little things. Our guys bought into what we’ve been doing and just did their job today. Elijah (Schreibeis) played a great game defensively and did a good job on their guard, taking him out of what they wanted to do. He set the tone on the defensive end of the floor, and that was huge for us in the third quarter.”
Rockland 17 10 6 12 — 45
Genesis Prep 14 13 22 14 — 63
ROCKLAND — N. Mingo 0, M. Mingo 2, Lee 4, Smith 0, Rupe 10, Petersen 0, Boyer 6, Permann 13, Farr 4, Reed 6. Totals 19-49 3-7 45.
GENESIS PREP — Shelton 0, Ogwuche 0, M. Reidt 0, Miles 0, Hearon 2, Hillman 24, Schreibeis 9, A. Reidt 3, Ebune 0, Symons 25. Totals 25-50 4-12 63.