Saturday, November 12, 2016

SPORTS STORY >> Titans come back on Zebras

By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor

Jacksonville’s boys’ basketball team won its season opener on Tuesday, winning on the road over Pine Bluff High School 68-63. The Titans had to overcome a 13-point second-quarter deficit, and did so with a simple change of strategy.

When Jacksonville coach Vic Joyner switched from man-to-man defense to a matchup zone, the tide began to change. Titan senior Tyree Appleby was the beneficiary of several leak-out dunks and hit a few big threes to turn in a stellar season-opening performance with 32 points.

“We weren’t closing out on shooters,” said Joyner. “We were sort of half defending, hoping they would miss. They got hot and we got into a little bit of hole. They base their offense on the dribble drive, and they kick it out to the shooters. I switched to a little matchup zone to stop that dribble drive. They went cold and weren’t getting back on defense. We were able to get some fast-break buckets and get back into the game.”

Pine Bluff led 20-14 at the end of the first period and then scored seven-straight to start the second quarter. That’s when Joyner changed defenses and the comeback began.

Appleby, who only had two points in the first period, hit two 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the second quarter, lead the rally.

Jacksonville trailed 35-30 at halftime, and the game stayed close throughout the third. The Titans then posted 22 points in the fourth when post play became a factor.