NEW MARKET — The two Southmont seniors hardly took their eyes off each other.
Carson Chadd and E.J. Brewer connected with each other for several baskets at key times in the second half and Vince Reimondo hit from inside and out in the Mounties 59-48 come from behind victory over Covington Friday evening in the Tandy Gymnasium.
“One thing I know about our guys is they don’t quit,” South coach Jake Turner said. “We’ve got unselfish guys. We’ve got great basketball IQ.”
The Mounties locked down the dangerous Trojans in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. The visitors managed only one field goal in the final 7:40 of the contest as the Mounties finished the game on a 18-4 run.
“In the second half we got some stops and it was a huge team win,” Turner added. “We’re truly a team. We have seven guys we can rely on. They all have different roles and different strengths and weaknesses.
The teams traded baskets early in the final frame. The momentum switched for good to the home team when Chadd tipped in a missed free throw with 4:31 left for a 46-45 lead.
Covington held a 42-41 advantage after an entertaining, shootout-style third period that saw the Mounties close a seven-point halftime deficit. Reimondo scored 10 of his 12 points in that frame and Trip Ward nailed three three pointers. South took its first lead on a Chadd basket with 4:25 to go, finishing off a 8-0 spurt.
The Trojans finished off a defensive tussle first half with four threes. Duncan Keller hit a pair on consecutive possessions, the second with 3:06 left in the half. Austin Stein added the other treys in the final minute for a 25-18 lead at the break.
Coach Evan Morgan’s team shot 18-of-52 for the game, but just 8-24 in the second half with 18 attempts from behind the arc. They made five.
South (10-3) countered with 22-45 shooting with a sizzling 14-23 in the final 16 minutes.
“First half was a little rough for us. We were missing shots we normally make and had some unforced turnovers. It wasn’t their pressure that was bothering us. It was just some things of us being sloppy with the ball.”
That last eight minutes was all about the South defense, especially on the inside.
“We put (Chadd and Brewer) on their two best players (Keller and Coye Ferguson) and they did a good job on them. I also thought Hayden Hess did a good job on (Stein) fighting through screens, being there on the catch and knowing the game plan.”
Ward led four South players in double figures with 16. Brewer had 14, Reimondo 12 and Chadd 10. Chadd finished off the double-double as he topped the rebounding with 12.
Stein led all scorers with 19 for the Trojans (10-7). Keller added 13, right at his average.
South also took the battle on the boards 36-30.
The Mounties head to Crawfordsville tonight for a Sugar Creek Classic rematch. Covington’s tough schedule continues Saturday hosting 3A No. 12 Lebanon.
“Crawfordsville is a great team. They’re well-coached. As I told our guys, these games are fun. So it’s about enjoying them.”
