Adelsperger, Stockaders lock down Blue Jackets

OLD FORT – If Old Fort plays defense for the rest of the season like it did Tuesday night … look out.The Stockaders turned their smothering defense into efficient offense in a 73-39 SBC River rout of rival New Riegel.From the opening tip, Old Fort (10-1, 9-0 SBC River) was locked in on the defensive end of the floor. It caused New Riegel (8-3, 6-3) to turn the ball over (21 times overall), and into some rushed shots. As a result, the Stockaders sprinted out to a 23-7 first-quarter advantage. They led 35-10 midway through the second quarter before the Blue Jackets started to finally settle in. They went on a 16-5 run to end the half, but Old Fort still held a 40-26 lead.From there, the Stockaders didn't let up, outscoring the Blue Jackets 33-13 in the second half, including a dominant 16-3 fourth."We wanted to make sure to get some easy (baskets) tonight because (New Riegel) runs the floor really well too. We were scoring a lot, which helped set up our pressure, which was working in our favor. When we were getting stops on defense, we were getting those easy ones we talked about," Stockaders coach Eric Hoover said. "They're a good defensive team and are very physical, so it was nice to see us run the floor and not let them set up their defense. "We can shut people down … I really believe that," Hoover said about his team's defense. "That was the best we've played defensively and we had a lot of activity in our zone and we made things tough for them. We did a good job not letting them get the ball back (offensive rebounds). They are a good offensive team. I think they came in averaging about 60 points a game, so to go out and make everything tough on them, it was great to see."Old Fort got contributions from a lot of players as four of them ended in double-figure scoring, but the tone-setter Tuesday night – and for most of the season – was senior Ryan Adelsperger. He has always had the ability to shoot from long range, but constant work in the gym and getting stronger in the weight room has improved his ability to get to the rim and finish through contact, which was on full display against the Blue Jackets. Whether it was scoring from beyond the arc or driving to the hoop, New Riegel had no answer for Adelsperger."(Coach) Hoover has always told me I'm going to see everyone's best (defender), so I've always been a decent shooter I'd say, but I've really tried to improve and work on myself getting to the hole and getting those kickouts because we shoot great as a team," Adelsperger said. "We move the ball so effortlessly and we play so well together. "I feel like since I've been putting the ball on the floor we get a lot more easy looks … It's really paid off putting in the time getting stronger getting past the defender to get to the rim for some easy ones."In addition to the couple of runs New Riegel had, Carter Clouse shot the ball well Tuesday, draining five 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 15 points. But after falling behind 13-0 and then 35-10 in the opening half, it's hard to find too many positives."Old Fort did what they do and they did it well," New Riegel coach Dave Losey said. "They feed off of turnovers and they feed off of their turnovers and we played right into it. Against an explosive team like Old Fort you can't get down 13-0 in the first three minutes or whatever it was. Just a lack of focus. You have to be on your 'A' game. "We had spurts at best where we looked like an amazing team for about 30 seconds, but unfortunately they make you play all 32 (minutes). There's only one way this team will go. We have to learn from it, flush it and the taste of these last two games. We basically took ourselves out of any league race, so it really will be about looking in and seeing where we're at. We have to grow as a group and stop feeling sorry for ourselves."Adelsperger paced the Stockaders with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five steals, followed by Isaac Gallagher and Tyson Frisch with 13 points apiece and Dimitri Carter with 11 points and five assists.Shane Jones had 11 points for the Blue Jackets.Halfway through the 18-game SBC River slate, the Stockaders are perfect. But does it last for long?A big matchup with Calvert (10-2, 8-1) is coming up Friday night in Old Fort. The Stockaders won the first battle on a Frisch buzzer-beater."They've been playing very well and they will be ready to go. We have to be ready to match it. I said this was probably the best game we played, and we have to be even better on Friday," Hoover said about the matchup with the Senecas.Adelsperger added: "We're expecting their best. Coach (Jon) Otterbacher does a great job with their guys. Whenever it's Old Fort and Calvert, it's always a good one," he said. "It's probably one of the biggest games of the year, especially in the league. We're gonna practice hard these next two days and come out swinging." Old Fort 73, New Riegel 39New Riegel (8-3, 6-3 SBC River): Carson Pahl 2-0-4; Carter Clouse 5-0-15; Alec Hohman 0-0-0; Aiden Faeth 3-1-7; Cameron Hohman 0-0-0; Jayden Nyer 1-0-2; Brayden Schalk 0-0-0; Shane Jones 4-1-11. Totals: 15-2-39.Old Fort (10-1, 9-0): Griffin Miller 1-2-4; Tyson Frisch 5-0-13; Isaac Gallagher 6-1-13; Brock Hull 0-0-0; Andrew Tackett 0-0-0; Harry King 0-0-0; Grant Havens 1-0-3; Dimitri Carter 4-0-11; Ryan Adelsperger 9-2-23; Henry Beisner 1-0-2; Brock Miller 2-0-4. Totals: 29-5-73.New Riegel&emsp;&emsp;7&emsp;&emsp;19&emsp;&emsp;10&emsp;&emsp;3&emsp;&emsp;– 39Old Fort&emsp;&emsp;23&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp;&emsp;16&emsp;&emsp;– 733-point goals: New Riegel 7 (Clouse 5, Jones 2); Old Fort 10 (Carter 3, Frisch 3, Adelsperger 3, Havens)Foul shots: New Riegel 2-4; Old Fort 5-8Rebounds: New Riegel 16; Old Fort 32 (Adelsperger 14)Turnovers: New Riegel 21; Old Fort 13