By GREG MENGELT
Jeffersonville came into the season with expectations of competing for sectional and regional titles and perhaps beyond.
So obviously a 1-3 start isn’t what the Red Devils had in mind. A 24-point loss to Walnut Hills (Ohio), a rare loss at Seymour and a rare home loss to Silver Creek could have a team in panic mode.
Andrew Grantz said Sunday evening that isn’t the case with his team.
Honestly, the Devils have been without its best player all season (senior Will Lovings-Watts could be back this week), they’ve been without their senior point guard (Kobe Stoudemire suffered an ankle injury against Seymour on Dec. 10 and his status for this week is unknown) and they’ve been without their head coach for more than a week (Grantz is expected to return to the Jeff sideline Monday after an illness kept him out last week), so it’s completely impossible to tell what the 2021-22 Red Devils really have.
“We’re not going to get caught up in our record,” Grantz said, noting the absences. “Any team in the state or country, or any team in college or the NBA, if it’s missing its best player, its head coach and its starting point guard, they’d be going through the same thing we are. The good thing is everyone is going to be back soon.”
With the loss to Seymour, competing for a Hoosier Hills Conference is likely out, but until we see what Jeff has when it has a complete unit, all the other goals for the season are still in front of the Devils.
“In the long run, I think this can be good for us,” Grantz said. “It’s given our younger guys an opportunity to really get some valuable minutes. I think that should pay off down the stretch. A lot of this has been out of our control. We’ve been talking about staying positive and using this as an opportunity to learn and grow. We’re not that far off from being 3-1 with those pieces missing. Those two players are huge pieces.”
Jeff will likely be shorthanded for at least part of this week’s MAC’s Childcare Christmas Classic at Louisville Western and Pleasure Ridge Park. The Devils will play the first two games at Western on Monday and Tuesday evenings with the final round Wednesday at PRP.
Jeff opens with Jeffersontown (Ky.) in Monday’s Hoosier Hills Hoops Game of the Night. The fact that J-Town is the opponent was news to Grantz until a couple of days ago. He had been given a bracket with DeSales as Monday’s opponent and the tournament host failed to inform him of the change until a couple days before the tournament is set to begin.
“I’ve spent the whole week scouting DeSales. Now I’m scrambling to find J-Town film,” Grantz said.
J-Town is 5-1 early in the season and already has an overtime win over Floyd Central, which appears to be Southern Indiana’s best team early in the season.
The Chargers have also beaten Fairdale, PRP and Trinity and are led by senior Will Vasser and sophomore Drae Vasser, who combine to average 28 points per game.
“I do know they’re going to be very aggressive and pressure full court and get in transition and get to the rim and get offensive rebounds,” Grantz said. “They’re going to try to do everything they can on the offensive end to put you on your heels. They’re going to try to jump on us early with pressure.”
Jeff will play either Western (7-1) or Manual (7-0) in Tuesday’s second round. The Red Devils will pay at 6 p.m. if they lose Monday or 7:30 if they win.
Grantz says he’ll try to attend Monday’s game but will likely take a back seat to his assistant coaches. Grantz says he returned to practice Saturday and was fatigued from his non-infectious health issue. Blake Snodgrass will continue to act as head coach.
“I’m going to go, but I’m going to act more like an assistant coach,” Grantz said. “The assistant coaches have been doing a fantastic job, but (the players) still miss that continuity of having the entire group together that’s been together for a year and a half now.”
MAC’s CHILDCARE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
FIRST ROUND
Monday, Dec. 20
At Louisville Western
Game 1 — Jeffersonville (1-3) vs. Jeffersontown (Ky.), 6 p.m.
Game 2 — Louisville Western (7-1) vs. DuPont Manual (7-0), 7:30 p.m.
At Pleasure Ridge Park
Game 3 — St. Xavier (Ky.) (4-2) vs. Louisville Southern (4-1), 6 p.m.
Game 4 — Pleasure Ridge Park (5-1) vs. Louisville Waggener (3-3), 7:30 p.m.
SECOND ROUND
Tuesday, Dec. 21
At Louisville Western
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m.
Game 6 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.
At Pleasure Ridge Park
Game 7 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 6 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 7:30 p.m.
FINAL ROUND
Wednesday, Dec. 22
At Pleasure Ridge Park
7th place game — Game 5 loser vs. Game 7 loser, 3 p.m.
5th place game — Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Consolation game — Game 6 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 6 p.m.
Championship game — Game 6 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7:30 p.m.
TODAY’S GAMES
MONDAY
GAME OF THE NIGHT
JEFFERSONVILLE (1-3) VS. JEFFERSONTOWN (KY.) (5-1)
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Event: MAC’s Childcare Holiday Classic, first round.
• Location: Louisville Western H.S. (2501 Rockford Lane, Louisville)
• Coaches:
Jeffersonville — Andrew Grantz (16-10 in second season at Jeff, 104-52 in seventh season overall)
Jeffersontown — Damien Anderson (Coaching record unavailable)
• Most recent game:
Jeffersonville — Lost to Silver Creek 72-59 (Dec. 17)
Jeffersontown — Defeated Christian Education Consortium 85-45 (Dec. 16)
• Last 20 years: First meeting.
• News & notes: Jeff will face either DuPont Manual (7-0) or the host Warriors (6-1) in Tuesday’s second round. If the Devils win Monday, they’ll play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. If they lose Monday, they’ll play at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The final round is Wednesday at Pleasure Ridge Park. Jeff will play at 3, 4:30, 6 or 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against either St. Xavier (4-2), Louisville Southern (4-1), Louisville Waggener (3-3) or the host Panthers (5-1). … The Red Devils were without head coach Andrew Grantz and star Will Lovings-Watts for Friday’s loss against Silver Creek. Grantz was out with a non-COVID illness and Lovings-Watts reportedly for breaking team rules. Both are expected to return soon. Lovings-Watts possibly as soon as Tuesday. … Not only was Jeff without Grantz and Lovings-Watts on Friday, senior guard Kobe Stoudemire was out with an ankle injury. … The Red Devils’ 1-3 mark is their worst through four games since 2014-15 when they went 8-14 under Matt Pait. … The Devils were outscored 24-14 in the fourth quarter by Silver Creek. … The Chargers are led in scoring by senior Will Vasser’s 14.2 points per game and sophomore Drae Vasser’s 13.8 per game. Senior guard Terrall Cleaves puts up 11.8 a night.
• Outlook: It’s been a struggle so far for the Red Devils and J-Town is pretty darn good.
• Greg’s pick: Jeffersontown 79, Jeffersonville 71.
