Tuesday’s clash between the East Robertson and Jo Byrns boys basketball teams was supposed to be a rivalry game, but it did not feel like one.
Taylor Groves scored 30 and Darion Shannon went for 21 to combine for 51 of East Robertson’s 70 points. Daltyn Hammonds added 12 on four three-point makes, and the Indians coasted to a 70-54 blowout in Cedar Hill.
“We didn’t play a perfect game, but it helps when you have guys like Taylor and Darion and Daltyn,” East Robertson coach Kurt Caton said. “We have a lot of guys that can contribute.”
The Indians had lost two of their last three entering Tuesday’s game, including a 49-44 defeat in their District 9-A opener at Houston County on Jan. 10. However, they changed that narrative against Jo Byrns by making 10 threes and limiting the high-powered Red Devil offense.
“Tonight was a big win for us,” Groves said. “We played great defensively in the first half. We were knocking down shots. I think we’re starting to peak at the right time.”
Groves missed six games from late November to mid-December with a strained ligament behind his knee, and East Robertson went 2-4 in his absence. With Groves healthy, the Indian lineup is back at full strength.
“We needed that win for confidence,” Caton said. “We’re trying to improve every game, and I think that we had good energy. We had our best practice all year (on Monday).”
East Robertson (8-9) jumped out to a 23-16 lead at the end of the first and went on a 13-3 run in the second quarter. Suddenly, the rivalry matchup turned into a rout.
“(East Robertson) came in and did what they were supposed to do,” Jo Byrns coach JoJo Northington said. “It’s a rivalry game, and they came in with that type of energy. We didn’t, and it showed on the floor. We didn’t play smart.”
Boone Fletcher led Jo Byrns with 15 points, while Collin Harper also finished in double figures with 11.
Jo Byrns fell to 3-11 ahead of its Friday game with Houston County. The Red Devils have lost seven times by 10 points or less, and Northington said late-game situations have been one of his team’s primary struggles.
“Most of it has been closing games,” Northington said. “Not this one, but we’ve been in most games. It’s like we’re right there. We have to do certain things to get over that hump – we have a lot of mental stuff to work on.”
BOX SCORE
East Robertson (70): Taylor Groves 30, Darion Shannon 21, Daltyn Hammonds 12, Jordan Barnyard 2, Scott Wiggins 2.
Jo Byrns (54): Boone Fletcher 15, Collin Harper 11, Bryce Cox 8, Bobby Ogg 8, Jayden Caira 5, Logan Head 3, Jacob Miller 2, Kenny Tolliver 2.
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