By KENZIE WINSTEAD
Content Editor

SEYMOUR, Ind. — Jeffersonville watched Bloomington South use a 12-2 run in the second quarter to take charge on its way to a 68-52 win in Saturday’s Seymour Regional semifinal.

“We got beat by a team that was better than us tonight,” said Jeff coach Joe Luce. “We didn’t play very well. We were very stagnant offensively. We had too much one on one and not a lot of ball movement.”

Luce said his team is still learning how to prepare for big tournaments.

“We didn’t listen very well this week, and didn’t take it (instruction) seriously,” the Jeff coach said. “We didn’t run guys off (the 3-point line) and you have to against that team.”

Jeff (19-6) only trailed 15-13 early in the second quarter before the Panthers (24-3) took over.

South led 35-21 at the half.

In the third quarter, the South lead grew to 40-22 before the Red Devils finally had a run of their own.

When Tre Coleman completed a three-point play, Jeff cut the lead to 40-29 with 3:19 left in the third quarter.

The Red Devils never got closer than 11.

Luce complimented South, especially at the defensive end. “They guarded us very well,” he said.

Connor Hickman, a sophomore, led South with 20 points. Jordan Meeks added 16 points, mostly in the final period as the Red Devils started to gamble.

Anthony Leal, one of the best juniors in Indiana, scored nine first-half points.

Coleman, also a junior, led Jeff with 14 points.

Will Lovings-Watts, who Luce said will transition to a guard, added 13 points.

“We were just a step slow today,” Luce said. “We got out-played. We got out-coached. That’s a team I think has a good chance to do well this evening.”

During the off-season, Luce said the Red Devils need to get stronger and put in some hard work.

“Our bodies don’t look like the other team’s bodies,” said Luce. “If we rest on anything and think we’ve arrived, it’s a problem.”