Consistent Alter shoots past Badin

Knights sink more than half their FG attempts in easy GCL home triumph.

Staff photo by Teesha McClam Alter takes on Badin at Alter High School on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 3:26 PM Wednesday, December 14, 2011

KETTERING — After opening the season with three successive wins, the Badin High School boys basketball team had a hard time coming up with just two consecutive baskets Tuesday night at Alter.

The Rams scored on back-to-back possessions only once through the first three and a half quarters, while the hosts Knights were the picture of efficiency and consistency, making more than half of their shots for an easy 56-33 Greater Catholic League victory.

“Our strategy going in was to try to put five guys outside the (3-point arc) and make their four outside guys in the zone chase us around,” Badin coach Nick Argentati said. “We knew we would get some open shots, and we did. We just didn’t make enough 3s.”

The Rams (3-1 overall, 0-1 GCL Central) made 6-of-26 from long range and managed 14 points in the first half.

“If you only give up 14 points in a half, you’re playing pretty good defense,” said Alter coach Joe Petrocelli, whose squad evened its record at 1-1, 1-1 GCL North.

“They spread us, and we just spread with them,” Petrocelli continued. “They put five guys on the perimeter, which very few teams do. We just matched up where they were. I thought we did pretty well defensively.”

Offensively, Alter did more than pretty well. The Knights made 21-of-38 shots from the floor and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.

Junior guard Jaaron Simmons led the way with 16 points, while senior guard Jake Laravie added 13.

“We played better, but anything would be better than scoring zero in the first quarter against Moeller like we did,” Petrocelli said. “We need to go a little more inside. We haven’t done that yet. My inside guys are still waiting for a ball.”

Badin played without 6-foot-4 starting forward Jonathan Kirsch, who suffered a concussion against Northwest on Thursday. But his absence didn’t have any effect on the Rams’ plan to try to beat the Knights over the top.

“We do shoot the ball pretty well, so we figured if we could make a decent enough percentage we would be in the game,” Argentati said.

Alter junior Greg Hart pulled down a game-high seven rebounds to go along with six points, while senior Allen Jemison contributed eight points.

Both teams return to action Friday, with Badin playing host to Purcell Marian while Alter plays a home game at Trent Arena against Carroll.

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