02/15/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
ANNA - From the beginning of the contest on Thursday night until the final horn sounded, the Anna-Jonesboro Wildcats came out ready to play and that effort continued throughout their 75-54 victory over West Frankfort.

Celebrating their Senior Night in front of a large contingent of Wildcat faithful, Coach Mike Chamness saw his club jump out to a great start and never let the game get close.

Anna-Jonesboro improved to 17-14 overall after a grueling schedule of contests and finished 4-6 in the SIRR Mississippi Division standings.

An 11-0 start turned into a 17-2 lead as the game got out of hand quickly for Coach Josh Sertich and his Redbirds.

West Frankfort committed seven of their 12-turnovers in the first quarter and although they cut into the deficit a few times during the matchup they never got closer than 10-points the rest of the game as they fell to 1-7 in the division and 10-19 overall.

“I give A-J credit. But we have been a terrible road team and we seem to come out flat on the road,” said Coach Sertich. “I told them we need to be ready at the start because they (A-J) were going to come out ready to go. We weren't ready and it got ugly.”

For the Wildcats balance was the key as four players scored in double-figures.

Six-five senior Noah Cavins netted a game best 17-points on the inside as WF could do little to stop the forward.

“Cavins was really good in the first quarter going right at (DJ) Thomas,” said Coach Chamness. “We made the plays tonight and the game wasn't in doubt in the second half. They guys were locked in and I'm excited about where we're at.”

Taj Hodges, a 5-11 junior, notched 15-points followed by sophomore Aidan McFadden and senior Drew Page with 10-points each.

Senior guard Dylan Harvel and senior forward JJ Gerardi score nine-points apiece in the rout.

The Redbirds were paced by senior guard Brady Melvin with 16-points and senior forward Keagan Bowers added 15.

The pair were the only players in double-figures for West Frankfort.

Coach Chamness got an outstanding performance from the defense, which forced an 18-of-53 showing from the floor, 6-of-17 from long range from the Redbirds.

Not only did the Wildcats shoot the ball better (29-of-58) than the visitors they took care of the rock, committing just three turnovers in the game.

“We made it pretty easy for them tonight. They do a nice job with the stuff (offense) they run. They have some good players but our defense was atrocious,” said Coach Sertich.

Cavins scored twice inside early in the first quarter and Hodges hit the Wildcats first 3-pointer of the night.

Harvel also added a driving score for an 11-0 lead just two minutes into the game.

The Hodges finished his strong opening stanza with two more baskets.

A drive down the middle of the lane followed by a rebound basket pushed the margin to 17-2.

West Frankfort responded with six points in the final 2:44 of the first quarter with baskets by Bowers and Melvin (2) with the frame ending at 19-8 AJ.
West Frankfort got to within 10-points three times in the second quarter before Anna-Jonesboro extended their advantage.

Bowers connected on his only 3-pointer of the game and Melvin added six-points in the quarter.

However Cavins scored twice more inside and McFadden converted a three-point play on a drive to the goal as A-J led 35-22 at the break.

(CONTINUED)

Whatever comeback plans the Redbirds had coming out of the intermission were stopped by a 15-3 run by the Wildcats.

Harvel added two more baskets and Cavins scored while being fouled in the lane.

His free throw misfired but Hodges grabbed the offensive rebound and his score extended the lead to 43-28.

Gerardi scored seven of his nine-points in the second half and his baseline drive closed the run at 52-30 with 3:23 left in the quarter.

A-J led 59-39 after three quarters and put the game on ice moments into the final period.

An 8-0 run got the Wildcats to within a basket from triggering the mercy rule continuous clock.

A 3-pointer from Page and consecutive scores from Gerardi on a steal and fast break followed by another baseline drive added to the West Frankfort problems.

Gerardi hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 67-39 lead with 6:29 left in the game.

To the credit of Coach Sertich and his club, the players didn't quit as the cut into the Wildcats' advantage in the final minutes.

Junior Jack Herrell hit a pair of 3-point shots and junior Evan Goforth added another long range shot to make the final score more respectable.

West Frankfort finished with 12-of-13 free throws made as a bright spot for the squad.

Anna-Jonesboro ended up with a narrow 32-30 rebounding edge as they hit just 12-of-21 free throws.

“Gerardi had a nice game for us and his confidence is better now and I'm so glad and proud of him,” said Coach Chamness. “Hodges had a nice game for us tonight. It was a team effort tonight as we had four kids and double-figures and two others with nine.”

The Wildcats will host Harrisburg on Monday night in the first round of the 2A Massac County Regional.

“It's a team we've beaten twice this year but they have a really good player in Ande and Henshaw can make some shots,” said Coach Chamness. “We'll have to be ready to play on Monday. The good thing is we earned the right to play on our home floor.”

The Redbirds host a regional next week but, as a number-10 seed, they will have to travel to number-nine Hamilton County on Monday for a first round game against the Foxes.

Hamilton County shocked Massac County on Thursday night, 66-62.

West Frankfort (54) - Thomas 1 0 2-2 4, Tyson 2 0 0-0 4, Osburn 0 1 0-0 3, Goforth 0 2 0-0 6, Melvin 5 0 6-6 16, Harrell 0 2 0-0 6, Isaacs 0 0 0-0 0, Scales 0 0 0-0 0, Bowers 4 1 4-5 15, Cass 0 0 0-0 0.
2FG-12/ 3FG-6/FT-12-13/PF-17.
Anna-Jonesboro (75) - Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Goins 0 0 0-0 0, Hodges 6 1 0-0 15, Page 1 2 2-5 10, Gerardi 4 0 1-2 9, Harvel 3 1 0-0 9, McFadden 2 0 6-8 10, Edmonds 0 1 0-0 3, Butler 1 0 0-0 2, Cavins 7 0 3-6 17.
2FG-24/3FG-5/FT-12-21/PF-12.
Fouled Out – None
Technical Fouls – None