WORTHINGTON -- Jackson County Central’s defense was able to do nothing to slow down the Worthington Trojans, and the Worthington defense was as good as its reputation. In a Tuesday night Big South Conference clash, the Trojans boys basketball team defeated the Huskies 90-57 in Worthington to move to 12-2 on the 2022-23 season.
Nasim Zeidi, who came off the bench to score 12 points, was one of five Trojans who reached double figures. Nothing JCC did defensively was able to control the WHS offense. The home team rebounded with gusto on both ends of the court, their fast breaks and twisting, driving layups and long-range shooting gave the Trojans arguably their most complete victory of the season.
“Every day we practice on our defense. We try to get better every day,” said Zeidi, who swished two 3-point attempts. “We really didn’t have that good of a defense last year, but we all stepped up this year. We all take pride in our defense. That was our No. 1 goal, to have a really good defense.
“We all take pride in our offensive rebounding. We do a defensive drill every single day,” Zeidi summed up.
Jacari Swinea, whose ability to score against tall odds, alone, is worth the price of admission to a WHS game, and he led all scorers with 19 points. Kaleb Knothe, the smooth 6-1 junior, tallied 16 points. Marenono Opiew opened the game with two 3-point connections for a 6-0 Worthington lead, and scored 11 of the Trojans’ first 13 points en route to a 14-point total after fouling out with 6:20 to play. Abagotte Opiew scored 13 points.
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“We played a well-rounded game,” said Worthington head coach Clint Meyer. “Defensively, it’s just been what we’ve been doing all season. … We were able to have a complete game, which was good to see.”
JCC began to extend its pressure defense halfway through the first half as it fell further behind, but it didn’t slow the Trojans down. Meyer said that from game film, the Trojans knew JCC “likes to throw different presses at you.” The hosts were ready for anything.
Meanwhile, the Huskies rarely had opportunities for second-chance baskets, and the Trojans did just as well on the offensive boards as on the defensive side.
None of the Trojans was reluctant to take a shot, and certainly not Zeidi, a wide-bodied 6-0 senior who is better known for his football excellence than his productivity on the offensive side of a basketball floor.
“As long as we’re taking good shots, they’re all capable of making the shots that they’re shooting,” said Meyer. “They’re playing to their strengths and not forcing things.”
Jackson County Central (8-7) received 10 points apiece from seniors Travis Rogotzke and Erik Hesebeck.
JCC 22 57
Worthington 47 90
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JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL (3FG-2FG-FT-TP) -- Hendricks 0-1-0-2, Rogotzke 2-1-2-10, Voss 0-0-6-6, Gallagher 0-0-1-1, Freking 1-1-2-7, Hesebeck 2-2-0-10, Kraus 0-2-0-4, Farmer 0-2-4-8, Grimmius 1-0-0-3, Rowe 0-2-2-6, Johnson 0-0-0-0. Totals 6-9-17-57.
WORTHINGTON (3FG-2FG-FT-TP) -- Walu 2-1-0-8, A.Opiew 2-3-1-13, M.Opiew 2-4-0-14, Knothe 0-6-4-16, Hayenga 0-3-0-6, Swinea 0-8-3-19, Zeidi 2-3-0-12, Brandner 0-1-0-2. Totals 8-29-8-90.
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