Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
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Sunday, December 21, 2008
Defenses focusing on Jefferson’s Payne
The wins have come for the Jefferson High School boys basketball team. And eventually, so will the points for Division I recruit Adreian Payne.
Or so hope the 3-1 Broncos.
Payne is averaging 8.2 points through four games, down from his 15.4 average last season. He’s scored 12, 12, 5 and 4 points. So what’s wrong with Payne — who is being wooed by Dayton, Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee and Florida among others? Nothing, according to Jefferson coach Art Winston.
“He’s drawing more attention than he did last year. He’s drawing a lot more attention with all the articles and things about him,” Winston said after Jefferson’s 80-63 loss to Dunbar on Friday, Dec. 19. “First game of the season there were two and three guys around him. Second game there were two and three guys. Every game there are going to be two and three guys. When he got the ball tonight three guys were collapsing on him.”
Payne finished with five points with two baskets and a free throw against the Wolverines. One of those baskets was a D-I caliber two-hand slam. Payne, whose confidence didn’t appear to be shaken, missed a handful of mid-range jumpers that mostly bounced off the rim. Defensively he looked sound. Payne blocked a couple shots and battled hard on the boards.
“He’s fine. He’s just struggling. (Dunbar’s) quickness affected him a little bit,” Winston said. “They’re pressing and trapping took us out of our offense and we weren’t able to work it inside like we wanted to work it inside.”
One Bronco taking advantage of the attention is Cody Latimer. He worked inside for 23 points to power Jefferson.
“Cody helps that a lot. Now you pick your poison. If you double AP, then Cody is going to be open. If you double Cody, AP is going to be open. That’s going to force a lot of teams to play zone or man up,” Winston said. “It’s a process we have to go through. This is the first year Cody and AP have played with each other.”
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