By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The Jefferson Boys Basketball was focused all game long against the Blanchet Catholic Cavaliers Monday night in PacWest Conference action at Blanchet. But it was the first four minutes of the fourth quarter when they really buckled down with the focus. And they really dialed it in as a team and turned what was a 42-42 tied game at the start of the fourth quarter and turned it into a 58-48 lead with four minutes to go in the game.
“We just focused in really. We had to focus in and get this win, and that’s what we did out there. We showed that we can really compete, and when we’re focused in, we’re going to grow that lead,” said Osbaldo Vasquez. “Just focused in from the start in the locker room and everything we’re all focused in. We have a game plan, and we want to execute that gameplan every game. That’s what we’re working on.”
The Cavaliers responded, though, as they cut the lead back down to five about 90 seconds later. 58-53, the pressure was back on the Lions to close out the game. Blanchet Head Coach Hans Rasmussen was talking throughout the game to his team about intensity. And they, the Cavs, brought it back up to give themselves a chance down the stretch in the contest.
With both Jefferson and Blanchet looking for one of those last spots into League Playoffs here in a few weeks and the second loop through league play under way, every game is starting to matter just that much more.
“That’s the big thing. We got to bring some intensity into the program. We’ve had some down years and so trying to get the kids believing in themselves, having confidence in themselves and pushing forward is going to be key,” said Rasmussen. “The two of us are competing for the bottom spot in the league playoffs. I told the team at the beginning of the game that the team that was hungrier was going to win, and they proved to be a little more hungrier than we were.”
Jefferson refocused and began to trade baskets with Blanchet. For much of the game outside of that 16-6 run, it was a pretty even game between two teams looking for positioning in the standings and it was the Lions that managed to stay out front of the Cavs when the final whistle blew at game’s end. Jefferson took the game 66-59 to improve to 5-5 in league play while the Cavs fall to 3-6 in league play.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
