Mount Vernon News

Mount Vernon can’t get road win

PICKERINGTON — After last Saturday’s 54-52 upset over undefeated Dublin Scioto, the Mount Vernon High School boys basketball team was unable to pick up a win on Friday, falling to Pickerington Central, 55-40. The Yellow Jackets and Tigers entered the game tied for second place in the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division at 3-4.

“You have got to be able to string two games back-to-back. We are getting ready to head in to the tournament and we still talk about winning tournament games, said Mount Vernon head coach Kurt Kaufman. “If you want to dance in the tournament ,you have to play good every time you step onto the floor. You have got to be ready to play.”

Mount Vernon ( 7-9, 3-5 OCC) played Central tight the first quarter, trailing by four, 15-11. The Tigers started to pull away in the second quarter, leading by eight at halftime, 25-17.

“I thought we played pretty good defense tonight, but offensively we didn’t look to attack. We weren’t aggressive and I really don’t know why. I thought we were flat. We were flat from the tip and I thought our jayvees were flat tonight and our varsity,” said Kaufman. “This is a game I thought our kids would be ready to play, but I’m not so sure we were. The good thing is we have got a game [Saturday] night so we have got to be ready again tomorrow.”

The Yellow Jackets only pulled down 15 rebounds, seven belonging to Kyle Clinedinst. This gave the Tigers the opportunity for the putback, which took away Mount Vernon’s chance at a second shot.

“They rebounded the ball well. We spread it out offensively, but we have still got to go to the glass and we didn’t have anybody going to the glass and they did so hats off to them,” said Kaufman.

Clinedinst led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 10 points, and defensively with three steals. Ben Severns scored nine points, hitting two 3-pointers.

In the junior varsity game, Mount Vernon defeated Pickerington Central, 41-32. Leading scorers for the Yellow Jackets were Drew Cheek with 12 points, and Jaryd Rogers with eight points. Other scorers for Mount Vernon were Cuy Sheffield with seven points, and both Russell Doup and Gabe Uhrig with five points.

Mount Vernon is at Marysville for a game tonight, beginning at 6 p.m.