By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Coach Bill Yoast called his players to the sideline for one of those inspirational lectures. “All right, now, I don’t want them to gain another yard! . . . If they cross the line of scrimmage, I’m gonna take every last one of you out!” That scene, from the classic movie Remember the Titans, captures the rugged intensity of football.
That also applies to basketball. Seymour plays defense with the same kind of toughness. Seymour coach Kirk Manns probably doesn’t threaten to remove the five on the floor when the opponent scores, but the Owls seem to view surrendered baskets as a personal affront. Don’t give another yard.
Bedford North Lawrence, which has rebuilt momentum after a whirlwind week of three games in four days, will challenge Seymour, one of the top defensive teams in the state, on Friday night. Both teams have four-game winning streaks, accomplished in different ways.
The Stars (7-4, 1-1 in the Hoosier Hills Conference) have averaged a healthy 70 points per game over the last three outings. Seymour (6-5, 1-3) has allowed only 29.3 points per game, which is off the charts on the misery-causing scale, during its four-game run. Styles will collide.
Seymour also features a deliberate, patient offensive attack, which makes possessions doubly important. The Owls are allowing only 42.7 points per game (second in the state among Class 4A teams), so speeding them up and coming from behind is a difficult proposition.
“They challenge all five positions on the floor,” BNL coach Kurt Godlevske said. “Each kid is invested in not giving any ground at all five spots. They challenge you on screens, so if you’re not getting touches in the paint, you will live and die by the three.”
Seymour started slowly, losing five of six through December. But the Owls have yet to lose since the calendar flipped. They have a veteran cast with four returning starters, with seniors Jaylan Johnson and Brady Harpe leading the way.
Johnson was one of the key figures during last year’s clash at BNL Fieldhouse. He scored 13 points and Bret Perry added 12 during Seymour’s 47-42 overtime win. The Stars hit only 3 of 13 shots in the first half and had to battle back from an 18-5 deficit. Seymour’s win was a springboard to a share of its first HHC title.
BNL is still in the early stages of this league race. The Stars will count on production from senior Patric Matson (21.9 points, shooting 49 percent from long range), plus inside help from Logan Miracle (10.4) and perimeter pop from Quincy Pickett (10.2).
“The kids have energy and are playing well,” Godlevske said. “But going on the road, we will have to be invested like they are, in defending. We will have to work for good shots. We have to make sure the shots we do get are really good shots.”
BNL’s magic number could be 50. The Stars have averaged only 49.8 points during their four losses. Seymour is 0-4 when allowing over 50 points.
“The games are really competitive,” Manns said. “It’s a great rivalry, we have a lot of respect for them. They know what they want to try to do and get things done. It will be a really tough game. It will probably come down to the fourth quarter, which team can make some shots and get some separation.”
BNL at SEYMOUR
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 7-4 (1-1 in HHC); Seymour 6-5 (1-3 in HHC)
Sagarin ratings: BNL 77.65; Seymour 80.70
Series: BNL leads 43-13
Last meeting: Last year at BNL, the Owls conquered the Stars 47-42 in overtime. Jaylan Johnson had 13 points and Bret Perry totaled 12 for Seymour. Patric Matson scored 16 points for BNL.
Previous game story: Seymour’s Kings of Overtime
Game notes: Seymour won its first HHC title last season. Kirk Manns, now in his sixth season with the Owls, is the longest tenured coach in the HHC. Seymour ranks second in the state among Class 4A teams in defense, allowing only 42.7 points per game.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Dax Short 6-1 Jr.
F – Isaiah Sasser 6-0 Sr.
C – Logan Miracle 6-5 Sr.
G – Patric Matson 6-5 Sr.
G – Quincy Pickett 6-3 Sr.
Seymour Owls
F – Michael Brooks 6-2 Sr.
F – Jaylan Johnson 6-3 Sr.
G – Brady Harpe 6-0 Sr.
G – Parker Thompson 5-8 Sr.
G – Nate Fritsch 5-10 Jr.
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