Woonsocket runs past Lincoln
Crooks makes return to Lions’ sideline
WOONSOCKET — For Blackstone Valley basketball fans, all is right with the world again.
After stepping down as Lincoln boys basketball coach last Dec. 14 following a disagreement with the school’s administration, Lincoln coach Kent Crooks returned to the sideline Thursday night in the Injury Fund against Woonsocket.
And while the contest didn’t go in favor of the Lions – Woonsocket ran past the young Lions, 84-71 – Crooks was just happy to be back alongside veteran assistant coach Jay Kelley marshalling the Lions for 32 minutes.
“It’s great to be back, but it’s not about me,” Crooks said. “This is about our kids and our new athletic director, Greg O’Connor, who is doing a phenomenal job. Having said that, it really is great to be back. It didn’t feel weird at all to be back. I saw a lot of good things from my kids and I thought we had a lot of fight in us.”
Lincoln (0-1) received a game-high 24 points from sophomore point guard Josh Jahnz, but Woonsocket cruised to victory thanks to transition offense and balanced scoring.
Senior guard Ke’Vaughn Davis scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the second half after Tyheem Gray and Denzel Lyles ran into early foul trouble.
Lyles, despite playing with four fouls for most of the second half, still scored 17 points. Wing Jaelin Jackson had 13 points and Gray chipped in with 11.
“Tonight, we wanted to improve on our ball movement and execute our plays because it’s early in the season,” Gray said. “We just want to run and play defense, but especially focus on our defense. We also want to make sure our bench is in the game. I love what I’m seeing, to be honest.”
Lyles, who could be a difference maker against Division I teams this season, showed his complete offensive game in the first half. The Forward knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and also attacked the basket for three other buckets to help the Novans build a lead they would never relinquish.
The Villa Novans used two big runs midway through the first half to turn a four-point advantage into a double-digit lead. First, Woonsocket went on an 8-0 run behind a Jackson 3- pointer and a bucket from Dwayne Robinson-O’Hagan to open up an 18-6 lead.
After a Nick Villanova 3-pointer cut the deficit to seven, Woonsocket hit the Lions with a 9-0 run to stretch the lead out to 27-11. Woonsocket led 37-26 at halftime.
“I don’t think they could ever put us away,” Crooks said. “[Woonsocket coach T.J. Ciolfi] and I were just talking, and with this game coming just 10 days into the season, to get offenses and defenses in, we still have a lot of work to do. We got beat in transition a few times and we fouled too much.”
The Villa Novans were the team fouling too much early in the second half, as Gray and Lyles picked up their fourth fouls just minutes into the half. Lincoln cut Woonsocket’s lead to 41-35 thanks to the play of Jahnz, Marty Gaughan, Tyler McNulty and Randall Hien.
Woonsocket responded with a 10-3 run to open up a 13-point advantage.
“We’re quick this year – a lot quicker than last year,’ Gray said. “Our main focus is to run because Coach Ciolfi likes to run and gun.”
Jahnz kept his team in the game with three 3-pointers to help the Lions get as close to nine points. Jahnz, just like Crooks, didn’t play a part in last season because of a leg injury he suffered during the soccer season.
“He did control the offense,” Crooks said of his sophomore point guard. “Him and Randall are two sparkplugs who will go all over the place. We have depth at a lot of positions this season.”
Woonsocket is back in action Wednesday in the East Bay against Barrington, while Lincoln hosts Wheeler the same night.