DEFENSE IN 'De' PATCH: Somerset falls to Danville Christian in slugfest

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset senior Landen Lonesky (14) finishes through the contact on a layup attempt during the Jumpers' 49-36 loss to Danville Christian in the 12th Region All "A" Tournament on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

SOMERSET - The Somerset Briar Jumpers figured they were going to be on the road this week at the 12th Region All "A" Tournament, but after some issues at the hosting Danville Admirals' gym, they got to stay inside the friendly confines of the Briar Patch to host said tournament. Unfortunately, for a team on a three-game skid, there sat a daunting roadblock in the first round in the form of the Danville Christian Warriors, a team whose lone losses this season were to Woodford County and Ashland Blazer. The last time these two teams got together was in last year's regional semifinals in a 3OT classic that went the way of the Jumpers.

The old adage, "That was last time this is this time," rang true at the Patch as both teams struggled through a defensive slugfest that went the way of Danville Christian after a fourth quarter run 49-36.

Geu Ateny had the first basket of the game inside for Danville Christian early in the first quarter, with Titus Boyd and Cole Dadisman each adding baskets after. This forced the Jumpers' head coach Ryan Young to call for an early timeout down 6-0. Landen Lonesky finally broke onto the scoreboard for the home team with a made basket inside, but that was about the lone offensive positive for Somerset in the period. After a two from Graham Domidion and a banked-in three from Lual Ayiei, the Warriors took a comanding 11-2 lead after the first quarter.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Danville Christian senior Lual Ayiei (center) shoots a jumper over the top of blocks from Somerset senior Landen Lonesky (14) and junior Kole Grundy (right) during the Warriors' victory over the Jumpers on Tuesday at the Briar Patch.

Aedyn Absher got the Jumper offense jumpstarted with a three to open play in the second period before Ateny and Lonesky would trade baskets in the paint to keep the Somerset deficit at six points. Another three from Ayiei followed as the visitors almost had their lead up to double digits. Kole Grundy scored his first basket of the game before a traditional three-point play from Ateny and a formidable block and rebound from the big man on the other end forced Somerset to call another timeout down 19-9.

Ayiei had an offensive rebound and two out of the timeout and it looked like the Jumpers were fading away late in the half. Lonesky was able to successfully convert a traditional three-point play to give his team a bit of life. Boyd drilled a three shortly before the half, with an answer from Absher from half court at the buzzer bouncing in and out of the rim to put Danville Christian on top 24-12 after a low-scoring first half of action.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset junior Kole Grundy (10) looks to pass the ball to an open teammate during the Jumpers' contest against Danville Christian on Tuesday evening.

Brock Stevens, the talented freshman guard for the Jumpers, hit his first three of the game to open the second half on a positive note for the home team. Following a block on the defensive end by Grundy, Josh Bruner would follow suit with his first three of the game to bring the Somerset deficit down to just six points at 24-18. Boyd would get the Warriors their first points of the period before Grundy became the third Jumper to hit a three in the third. Ateny was able to connect from short range to put the Warriors' lead up to 28-21, with Danville Christian calling for a timeout to regroup shortly after.

Grundy and Boyd traded baskets before it was Somerset who wanted to take a timeout. Following Absher hitting both free throws from the charity stripe, Lonesky was able to hit a shot from the paint to bring the Warriors' lead down to just three points, the closest the Jumpers would get to getting the game evened up for the remainder of play. A bench warning was issued on Danville Christian before Ateny and Boyd each added two points late in the period. Lonesky was able to hit a shot from inside shortly before the buzzer to bring the Briar Patch to their feet, as Somerset trailed by just five points at 34-29.

The fourth quarter was an offensive nightmare for both teams, as neither team could buy a bucket as both were ratcheting up the pressure on the defensive end. Dadisman finally broke the scoring drought nearly four minutes into the quarter with a two. Things went from bad to worse for the home team with back-to-back baskets from Ateny. Dadisman scored again following the PA announcer for Somerset being thrown out of the gym by the refs, before Grundy brought an end to a 8-0 spree with a basket to bring Somerset within 11 points.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset junior Aedyn Absher (2) dribbles in between several defenders during the game between the Briar Jumpers and the Danville Christian Warriors on Tuesday.

There just wasn't enough time for the Jumpers to mount any sort of comeback by this point though. Dadisman was able to connect with a traditional three-point play that led to a bench warning being called on the home team. Ayiei was almost able to convert on a massive alley-oop dunk, but was fouled and hit both free throws. Absher was able to hit a three-pointer and Bruner was able to get a steal and two late, but again, there just wasn't enough time remaining on the clock. After a pair of free throws from Boyd, the Warriors were able to dribble out the clock on a 49-36 victory over Somerset.

The Jumpers were led in scoring by Lonesky with 11. Other scorers included Grundy with nine, Absher with eight, Bruner with five and Stevens with three. Danville Christian was led by Ateny with a game-high 15 points.

Somerset falls to 6-6 on the season and will next be in action on Friday as they make a short trip to Southwestern to take on the Warriors in a crosstown showdown.

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