San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Jags withstand rally, improve to 5-0 in 28-6A
The Johnson boys basketball team is heading down to the final stretch of the regular season with 10 games in the books.
It’s not a huge amount, but it’s enough of a sample that is telling of what could be as the Jaguars press forward.
Third-ranked Johnson used its athleticism and shooting prowess with great effectiveness to post a 66-46 victory against Reagan on Saturday afternoon at Littleton Gym.
The victory pushed the Jaguars to 5-0 in District 28-6A play — the league’s lone undefeated team — and 9-1 overall.
“I wish I had 20 games with this team,” Johnson coach Jay Keller said.
Like all the district’s teams, Johnson had its season stunted by a month after North East ISD suspended play in mid-December because of COVID-19 issues. Johnson has played the least amount of games in the district through Saturday.
“I think it’s all coming together really well to be honest,” said Johnson’s senior forward Mitch Iden, who scored 11 points. “I think we have real good chemistry and I think everyone plays together and we don’t really have any selfish players.”
Outside of a scoring drought that lasted the first half of the third quarter, the Jaguars were consistent with their ball movement, worked the boards (28-20 advantage), and the perimeter (6-3 edge in 3-pointers) to win for
the seventh straight time.
Senior guard Shane Johnson led the Jaguars with 17 points while adding a team-best eight rebounds. Guard R.J. Brown scored 14 and knocked down four 3pointers, all in the first half.
Johnson, playing in only his third game after playing receiver for the Jaguars’ football team, scored a pair of treys as part of a 25-13 second quarter for Johnson. Brown contributed three 3-pointers in the second.
Those long bombs helped the Jaguars lead 36-21 at halftime.
“We were able to get everybody involved,” Johnson said. “(The Rattlers) were pressing us. Doing everything — zone, man — but we had a plan for it all. Coach Keller got us prepared very well.”
Unranked Reagan (10-4, 3-3) made a push in through the first five minutes of the third quarter as the Rattlers cut the Jaguars’ lead to 38-33 following a 3-point play by Aidan Wollenzier at the 2:29 mark.
“They came out firing on all cylinders, making every shot, playing great defense,” Johnson said. “We got back to our old ways like back in the first half, and everything turned out good.”
Iden showed some good range by rattling in a trey to make it 4133. Reagan’s Keith Davis answered with a 3-pointer to pull the Rattlers to within 41-36.
The Jaguars responded with a 16-2 run over the next six-plus minutes to put it away. Iden scored six points on put backs during that run.
“In the first half, we played good defense, and we held them to 21 points,” Iden said. “In the second half, I think we came out a little bit selfish, but then we started to play more as a team and things started to work out for us.” Davis led all scorers with 20. Johnson heads up the race for the district’s top seed for a tournament that will determine 28-6A four playoff teams.
The Jaguars have three games remaining before the tournament. Clark (13-2), a 90-60 winner against LEE on Saturday, is a halfgame back with two left. Johnson beat Clark 66-48 on Dec. 11. The teams will not meet again before the tournament.