Yellow Jackets humble Cavs
Posted on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 12:22 pm
By Scott Richards
Three Yellow Jacket players scored in double figures as host James Monroe used a tough man-to-man defense to defeat the Caroline Cavaliers 85-69.
Jaamir Bumbrey scored 17 points to lead the Yellow Jackets on Tuesday of last week.
Te’Quan Alers added 15 points and Julian Bumbrey, 14, as James Monroe improved to 2-0 in the Battlefield District and 3-0 overall.
Joe Bouldin’s 28 points, including three 3-point baskets, led Caroline, and Jaron Moore added 15 points. Moore and Chris Thomas each pulled down seven rebounds to pace the Cavaliers, who fell to 2-1 in the district and 4-4 overall.
The Yellow Jackets combined their strong man-to-man defense with an up tempo offense that generated numerous baskets from fast breaks.
“The game between Caroline and James Monroe is always a rivalry, so we prepared,” said JM Coach Antonio Coghill. “We ran hard, and our man-to-man defense came out strong.”
James Monroe took a 21-11 lead after one quarter and led the rest of the way. Caroline managed to pull within five points in the second quarter and within eight in the third quarter.
The Cavaliers had plenty of opportunities at the free throw line but failed to convert many of them. Caroline shot 15-of-33 from the foul line.
The previous week Caroline easily won a pair of games over district opponents Courtland and Spotsylvania, and its confidence was misplaced against the Yellow Jackets, suggested Coach Antoine Johnson.
“The team was overconfident coming into this game,” said Johnson. “We have the talent to play against a team like JM, but tonight we did not show it. This was definitely a learning experience.”
Mistakes and poor foul shooting cost the Cavaliers the game, said Johnson.
The Cavaliers were scheduled to play in a tournament at Henrico High School Tuesday-Thursday this week.
