Game of the Week: Rockets, Bulldogs clash in Lions Club tournament

Greene County teams are always happy get invited to the annual Carmichaels Lions Club Coal Bowl boys basketball tournament.
Jefferson-Morgan coach Dennis Garrett is no exception.
“I think it’s always a competitive tournament,” Garrett said. “It’s good for the area. It showcases local kids.”
Garrett’s Rockets will play in the second game when the two-day tournament begins today at Carmichaels Area High School. Jefferson-Morgan (5-2) takes on Beth-Center (3-5) at 7:30 p.m.
The host Mikes (0-6) and Mapletown (0-7) meet in the first game at 6 p.m. That game pits an extreme contrast of coaches, as far as tenure goes. Mikes coach Don Williams is in his 40th season. Maples coach Wes Loring is in his first. The winner will not only notch his first win of the year but also get a chance to play for the tournament championship on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. following the consolation game at 6 p.m.
One player who is definitely worthy of showcasing in the tournament is Rockets versatile 6-foot-4 senior forward/guard Rece Henneman, who recently went over the 1,000-point mark for his career.
Bulldogs coach Gary Amos is well aware of Henneman’s exploits.
“Obviously, we have to stop Rece Henneman and his scoring,” Amos said. “He is an elite scorer and we have been playing them for years now.”
“Rece does it all for us,” Garrett said. “He handles the ball, he’s unselfish, we can post him up. It was good to see him score that 1,000th point.”
Garrett would know something about 1,000-point scorers. He’s one himself. In fact, the 1975 J-M graduate was the first Rocket player to ever hit that plateau, and ended up with 1,356 career points. He and Henneman both got their milestone point against today’s opponent.
“We played Beth-Center earlier this season (Dec. 8, a 61-44 Rockets’ victory) and that’s the game Rece scored his 1,000th point,” Garrett said. “I scored my 1,000th point against Beth-Center, too.”
Garrett is more proud to talk about where he’s from than his accomplishment, however.
“I was born and raised in Pitt Gas, and that’s where the first three 1,000-point scorers in Jefferson-Morgan history came from,” Garrett said. “Calvin Wilson and Shanna Yourchik are 1,000-point scorers, too, and both are from Pitt Gas.
“Rece actually isn’t far from there. He’s from Chartiers Bottom, a little patch in Clarksville.”
Henneman, who is averaging over 20 points per game this season, is joined in J-M’s starting lineup by four fellow seniors in Dylan Davis, Nick Gustovich, Christian Randolph and Austin Clark.
“We’ve been playing pretty well, playing together,” Garrett said. “I’m happy. There are probably some things we need to improve on but we’re playing hard and playing competitive. That’s all I want.”
The Rockets have also been blending in some younger players into the mix, including freshmen Jalen Torres, Thomas Wilson and Dennis Garrett, who is the coach’s son.
The Bulldogs are led by senior point guard Ryan Beyer, but also rely heavily on senior forward Tyler Ross and Luke Hess as well as junior guard Bradey McDonnell.
Amos wants his team to be more aggressive in the rematch.
“We need to attack J-M’s defense and not settle for just jump shots,” Amos said. “We’ve seen Jefferson earlier in the year and we split with them last year in section play. Both teams know each other and there’s going to be no surprises.”
Garrett agrees.
“The kids all live five minutes away from each other,” Garrett said. “It doesn’t really make a difference that we won that first game. This if for bragging rights. That first win won’t matter much in this game.”
As for the tournament, Garrett remembers it when he was in high school.
“I hope they always have it,” Garrett said. “It’s a great tradition. Don (Williams) has been here a long time and I know as long as he’s still at Carmichaels, this tournament will still be around.”