WAR IN THE PAINT: Somerset earns comeback victory over Southwestern

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset senior Landen Lonesky (14) battles for possession of the ball with Southwestern junior Jarrett Simpson (left) during the Jumpers' 49-45 victory over the Warriors on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025.

SOMERSET - For the first time this season, the Somerset Briar Jumpers and Southwestern Warriors squared off in a rivalry clash. Somerset just lost to a crosstown foe at the Briar Patch on Friday in the Maroons of Pulaski County, so Briar Jumper Nation was hopeful for their team to get back on the winning side of things.

Well, if you were a fan of basketball before the three-point line, you were in luck in this contest as neither team found much success from beyond the arch, combining for just nine total three-pointers. Instead, this game was won due to some tough work in the paint by the Briar Jumpers, as Somerset came from behind entering the fourth to take a 49-45 victory.

Southwestern quickly got out to a 6-0 lead over their rivals following baskets from Zach Hutchinson, Adam Marcum and Kaden Campbell. Somerset finally got on the board with an offensive put-back from Jakob Bartley, but that was immediately followed by baskets inside by both Marcum and Hutchinson, giving the visitors a 10-2 and forcing Somerset head coach Ryan Young to call for a timeout to get his group reorganized.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Southwestern junior Jarrett Simpson (24) rises to fire a shot over defense from Somerset junior Jakob Bartley (33) during the Warriors' loss to the Jumpers on Tuesday night.

With the Jumpers turning to their bench, Brock Stevens drilled the first three of the ball game to cut the Warrior lead down to five. After five straight points from Jarrett Simpson, it looked like Southwestern was going to take a double digit lead heading into the second period. However, Landen Lonesky was able to make enough space in the paint to hit a layup before the buzzer, putting Somerset down 15-7 after the first eight minutes.

Simpson began the second quarter with another two, but the Jumpers got right back into things with the first two of the game from Aedyn Absher and another three from Stevens. It was a very low-scoring second period for both teams, with Kole Grundy scoring four straight points to trim the Warrior lead to just three points. A basket from Hutchinson pushed the visitors' lead up to 21-16 at the half though.

Following two free throws from Absher and a basket inside from Lonesky, the Southwestern lead was down to just one point soon after the start of the second half. The Warriors immediately pushed it back out to six following a basket from Aiden Webb and a triple from Marcum. Lonesky attempted to put the team on his back over the next few moments, scoring four straight to trim the Warriors' lead down to 26-24 before a basket from Absher tied the ball game up.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset junior Kole Grundy (right) fires a three-pointer over the top of Southwestern sophomore Kaden Campbell (center) during the Jumpers' contest against the Warriors on Tuesday at the Briar Patch.

Back-to-back baskets from Hutchinson pushed his team's lead back out to four points as Somerset called for a timeout. It seemed like the Warriors kept having an answer for every Somerset run as their lead was still at six heading into the final minute of the third quarter, however the Jumpers finally had momentum on their side heading into the final period following a three from Absher that put the Southwestern lead at 34-31.

Absher drilled another long range shot to tie things up soon after the start of the fourth, with coach Young calling for another timeout to get his team focused on the stretch run. A quick layup from Stevens later, and the Jumpers had their first lead of the game at 36-34. Neither team could get any sort of advantage as the lead kept on flipping back and forth over the next few minutes.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Southwestern junior Zach Hutchinson (1) loses the ball out of bounds during the Warriors' game against Somerset on Tuesday.

A three from Hutchinson was immediately followed by another triple from Absher, which in turn was followed by a traditional three-point play from Hutchinson as neither team could build any lead. A massive three from Grundy in front of his team's student section electrified the Briar Patch and gave the Jumpers a two-point lead. Webb was sent to the line in an attempt to tie up the game, but only managed to hit one of his two shots, with Lonesky managing to secure a key jump ball to give his team possession of the basketball.

Josh Bruner hit one of two from the charity stripe to push his team's lead to two points, with Southwestern head coach Jeron Dunbar calling for a timeout to draw up a potential game-tying play. The Warriors got the ball right where they wanted in the paint, but Simpson stepped on the baseline and the ball went back to the home team. Josh Lewis stepped up and hit both free throws after being fouled, sealing a come-from-behind 49-45 victory over the Warriors.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset freshman Brock Stevens (22) heads to the basket with a layup attempt during the game between the Briar Jumpers and the Southwestern Warriors on Tuesday.

The Jumpers were led by Absher with 15 points. Other scorers included Grundy with 13, Stevens and Lonesky with eight apiece, Lewis and Bartley with two apiece and Bruner with one. Somerset improves to 10-10 and will be back at home on Tuesday to take on the Wayne County Cardinals.

Hutchinson led the Warriors with a game-high 20 points. Other scorers included Simpson with 13, Marcum with seven, Webb with three and Campbell with two. Southwestern falls to 11-13 and will be on the road on Tuesday to take on the East Jessamine Jaguars.

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