By GREG MENGELT
Jeffersonville senior Will Lovings-Watts will return to the lineup for the Red Devils on Tuesday at Mac’s Childcare Christmas Classic at Louisville Western.
The Drake signee will make his season debut against host Western (7-2) in Tuesday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Day. The Devils and Warriors will will meet in the consolation bracket of the tournament after suffering defeats Tuesday.
Jeff, which is also without senior point guard Kobe Stoudemire because of an ankle injury, fell to 1-4 with the 78-53 defeat. Senior Brandon Rayzer-Moore was the only player in Jeff’s lineup Monday who had significant varsity experience prior to this season.
“We struggled with their pressure,” said Jeff’s second-year coach Andrew Grantz, who acted as an assistant coach Tuesday as he returns from a non-infectious health issue that caused him to miss all of last week. “It’s difficult right now with Kobe out. We’re asking Caleb Thomas to play the point guard role and it’s really not allowing him to play to his strengths. Our next point guard is a freshman. Our freshman are doing a great job, but it’s his fifth (varsity) game ever. … This has been a valuable experience (for the Jeff freshman).”
After facing Western today, the Red Devils will face either Louisville Southern (4-2) or Louisville Waggener (3-4) in the final round of the tournament Wednesday at Pleasure Ridge Park. If Jeff wins, it will play at 4:30 p.m. in the fifth-place game. With a fifth straight loss, the Devils will play at 3 p.m. in the seventh-place game.
Jeff expects to be whole for the first time next week when it participates in the Paul Logan Memorial Invitational at North Central. The Devils will face the host Panthers next Tuesday and Pike on Wednesday.
“This tournament then going to next week’s tournament, we’ll see our group slowly returning to the team we planned on having,” Grantz said. “We’re doing a lot of learning on the fly against a heck of a schedule. We’ve had a lot go against us that’s out of our control, but I’m convinced it’s going to make us better in the long run.”
MAC’S CHILDCARE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
FIRST ROUND
Monday, Dec. 20
At Louisville Western
Jeffersontown (Ky.) 78, Jeffersonville 53
DuPont Manual 67, Louisville Western 41
At Pleasure Ridge Park
St. Xavier (Ky.) 63, Louisville Southern 56
Pleasure Ridge Park 92, Louisville Waggener 65
SECOND ROUND
Tuesday, Dec. 21
At Louisville Western
Jeffersonville (1-4) vs. Louisville Western (7-2), 6 p.m.
Jeffersontown (Ky.) (7-1) vs. DuPont Manual (Ky.) (8-0), 7:30 p.m.
At Pleasure Ridge Park
Louisville Southern (4-2) vs. Louisville Waggener (3-4), 6 p.m.
St. Xavier (Ky.) (6-2) vs. Pleasure Ridge Park (Ky.) (6-1), 7:30 p.m.
FINAL ROUND
Wednesday, Dec. 22
At Pleasure Ridge Park
7th place game — Jeffersonville/Western loser vs. Southern/Waggener loser, 3 p.m.
5th place game — Jeffersonville/Western winner vs. Southern/Waggener winner, 4:30 p.m.
Consolation game — Jeffersontown/Manual loser vs. St. Xavier/PRP loser, 6 p.m.
Championship game — Jeffersontown/Manaul winner vs. St. Xavier/PRP winner, 7:30 p.m.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
JEFFERSONVILLE (1-4) VS. LOUISVILLE WESTERN (7-2)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Event: MAC’s Childcare Holiday Classic, second round.
• Location: Louisville Western H.S. (2501 Rockford Lane, Louisville)
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (16-11 in second season at Jeffersonville, 104-53 in seventh season overall)
Western — Brandon Britt (Coaching record unavailable)
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost to Jeffersontown (Ky.) 78-53 (MAC’s Childcare Christmas Classic, first round, Dec. 20)
Western — Lost to DuPont Manual 67-41 (MAC’s Childcare Christmas Classic, first round, Dec. 20)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: Will Lovings-Watts will play Tuesday after serving a 5-game suspension for “violating program rules.” The status of point guard Kobe Stoudemire, who suffered an ankle injury in the Red Devils’ 55-47 loss at Seymour. Grantz said Stoudemire’s ankle is improving, but his return is probably a couple games away. … Western’s only losses this season have been against North Oldham 68-65 on Dec. 11 and yesterday against unbeaten Manual. … The Warriors are led by junior guard Trent Hinkle, who averages 18 points per game.
• Outlook: The return of Lovings-Watts will help, but the Red Devils probably have a little ways to go this season to compete with high-level programs.
• Greg’s pick: Western 60, Jeffersonville 52.
EASTERN (6-1) AT NEW WASHINGTON (2-3)
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Location: James Matthews Gymnasium (a.k.a. The Jim), New Washington H.S. (226 N. Highway 62, New Washington)
• Coaches:
Eastern — Chandler Prible (18-14 in second season at Eastern)
New Washington — Kyle Brown (11-18 in second season at New Wash)
• Computer-based Sagarin Ratings:
Eastern — No. 98, No. 14 Class 2A
New Washington — No. 347, No. 69 Class A
• Most recent game:
Eastern — Defeated Borden 57-55, OT (Washington County Invitational championship, Dec. 18)
New Washington — Won at Crothersville 75-53 (Dec. 18)
• Last 20 years: Eastern 7-3.
• Most recent meeting: Dec. 22, 2020 — At Eastern 47, New Washington 42.
• News & notes: The Musketeers outscored Borden 6-4 in overtime to claim their first Washington County Invitational championship since 2010. … Cade Jones had 32 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds and Jacob Cherry finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds during the 2-game championship run. … New Wash was outscored 43-21 in the second half of its 19-points loss to Rising Sun on Friday. Mason Arthur led the Mustangs with 16 points in the loss.
• John Harrell prediction: Eastern 71, New Washington 40.
• Sagarin projection: Eastern by 26.
• Outlook: We’re pretty sure the Mustangs will be a contender in March, but even at home, they probably don’t have enough to hang with a good Eastern team.
• Greg’s pick: Eastern 67, New Washington 53.
