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Strong collective performance sends Jersey Shore boys to tournament final

By Chris Masse 5 min read

HUGHESVILLE–Jager Woodring scored five quick first quarter points before Spencer Brion produced eight in less than 90 seconds a quarter later.

But what made Jersey Shore look particularly dangerous Thursday night was that even when the starters went to the bench, the team continued thriving. Whether starter or reserve, it didn’t matter as all the Bulldogs performed well, sending them to a third consecutive Bill Babcock Christmas Tournament championship.

Brion scored 15 points, Woodring added 10 and nine different players tallied points in the first three quarters as Jersey Shore defeated two-time defending District 4 Class AA champion Wyalusing, 53-34. The Bulldogs (2-2) earned a spot against two-time defending tournament champion Hughesville Friday night.

“Credit to our backups. They came in and played a lot of the second and the whole third quarter and they showed how good they are,” Brion said. “There’s a lot of them. We have freshmen and sophomores and a lot of players stepping up. We have a bit of everything.”

That showed all night as Jersey Shore clicked on both ends and led from start to finish. The Bulldogs consistently turned defense into offense, forcing 18 turnovers, and literally everyone first year coach Tyree Kirkpatrick used made strong contributions. He went exclusively to the bench in the third quarter after Jersey Shore built a 15-point halftime lead and those reserves extended the lead entering the fourth.

Jersey Shore led by as many as 26 points with six minutes remaining and a young team showed its potential after having not played a game in nine nights.

“We have a scrappy team; we have an all-around team. It’s just small things that we have to improve on and execute better,” Kirkpatrick said. “I watched a lot of film before I got hired here, and there were a lot of things we lacked, and we’ve improved on so far.”

Kirkpatrick used those middle quarters to help the reserves gain more valuable experience, something which can help this season and beyond. Players like Ben Dalton, Disel Kipa, Jude Tentyck, Hunter Fink and Eli Freeman all competed well and helped Jersey Shore maintain control the entire game. Tentyck and Kipa drained second quarter 3-pointers and Dalton one in the first while Eli Freeman and Caden Jolin combined for four steals.

Make no mistake, the starters also played well and opened the game on a 10-0 run. Wyalusing cut it to 18-13 early in the second quarter but Brion’s flurry, which included four straight baskets outside and inside, restored order and put Jersey Shore ahead, 33-18 at halftime.

Brion was one of the area’s top reserves last season and the junior center is now one of the team’s most experienced players. He has started the season strong and was one of five different players to hit 3-pointers against Wyalusing.

“I got a lot of experience last year playing with those guys and now playing with this team, that helps a lot,” Brion said. “I got my shot down more. I worked on my defense a lot and worked with Coach a lot in the summer. He loves defense and conditioning. He gets everyone in shape.”

Kirkpatrick’s players are embracing that defensive, hustling mentality. That played a major role in Jersey Shore taking the early lead as defense led to offense. Kaimen West and Derrick High combined for seven steals, Mason Miller dealt four assists and the Bulldogs unselfishly did damage in transition.

When in the half-court, Jersey Shore also performed well. The Bulldogs efficiently moved the ball inside and outside and Woodring, a sophomore point guard, provided an early spark. Wyalusing really could not key on any one or two players either since five Bulldogs scored in the opening quarter.

“We’re an overall team where if we really click and focus on those small things, we can be really good,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s just confidence for my players.”

Jersey Shore showed a lot of defensive confidence, communicating well, harassing ball-handlers and cutting off passing lanes. The Bulldogs contained dynamic forward Blake Morningstar and allowed just 11 points in the first and third quarters.

And with the depth Jersey Shore is featuring, players were able to consistently empty their tanks. They remained confident knowing that if they tired, there were valuable players ready to enter and keep the team surging.

“I think we’re building it up right now,” Brion said. “We’re just working hard and getting after it.”

The Bulldogs are learning as they go, and Kirkpatrick hopes they learned a lot from their first winning experience earlier this season. Jersey Shore defeated Midd-West before losing at home the following night. So as excited as Jersey Shore was following Thursday’s win, they were quickly turning the page and getting ready for Hughesville.

“I don’t want my kids getting used to thinking that just because we beat a team by 20 or 30 that’s how it’s always going to be,” Kirkpatrick said. “I want them to work on their game when we have these types of games. I want them to remember that when we come in tomorrow, it’s a whole new game.”

JERSEY SHORE (53)

Spencer Brion 6 0-0 15, Mason Miller 3 1-2 7, Kaimen West 0 0-0 0, Derrick High 1 1-4 3, Jager Woodring 4 2-3 10, Ben Dalton 1 0-0 3, Diesel Kipa 1 1-2 4, Jude Tentyck 3 0-0 7, Hunter Fink 1 0-0 3, Eli Freeman 0 1-2 1, Caden Jolin 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 6-13 53.

WYALUSING (34)

Blake Morningstar 6 2-3 15, Parker Petlock 0 0-0 0, Trehnon Hugo 1 0-0 2, Nick Vanderpool 2 0-0 4, Thomas Olivier 1 -0 2, Zihiah Walton 2 0-0 4, Brody Fuhrey 2 2-2 7. Totals 14 4-5 34.

Jersey Shore 15 18 10 10-53

Wyalusing 5 13 6 10-34

3-pointers: Jersey Shore 7 (Brion 3, Dalton, Tentyck, Kipa, Fink); Wyalusing 2 (Morningstar, Fuhrey).

Records: Jersey Shore 2-2. Wyalusing 2-4.

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