jconline.com
OXFORD – Hounding defense and dominating rebounding rarely are used to describe All-Star basketball settings. The 2009 Indiana All-Star boys appear to be the exception to that offensive-oriented stereotype affixed to the annual Indiana-Kentucky series.
Buying into what coach David Wood of West Lafayette has been preaching, the Indiana All-Stars pulled away from the Junior All-Stars, 105-83, in an exhibition game June 9 at Benton Central’s Arena Gymnasium.
The Indiana All-Stars, who include Purdue recruits D.J. Byrd (North Montgomery) and Patrick Bade (Franklin Central), outrebounded the Junior All-Stars 62-38 and scored 30 points as the result of turnovers.
Byrd, who tweaked his left hamstring during the first half and sat out the final 20 minutes, said this team understands what it needs to do to beat Kentucky on Saturday in Indianapolis and on Sunday in Louisville.
“I didn’t need to come out and shoot a lot of shots,” said Byrd, who had five rebounds and no points in 10 minutes. “We've got people like Scott Wood (Marion), Jordan Hulls (Bloomington South), and Bruce Grimm (Rochester) who can score – I was looking to set some screens and go to the offensive board.
“We rebounded and played good defense. That will improve during the rest of the week. This was our first game together, and we were a little disorganized on the offensive end.”
Indianapolis Cathedral forward Errick Peck led the Indiana All-Stars with 19 points, Wood had 17, and Lawrence North’s Stephen Van Treese added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
But defense – the juniors shot 39.4 percent and were guilty of 25 turnovers – and rebounding were the formula for victory.
“Everybody did a great job playing defense,” said Bade, who finished with two points and five rebounds. “We really got after it on the boards. We also didn’t turn the ball over as much – that’s what helped us win.
“We played great together, and coach Wood has been preaching defense to us. That’s been one of our focus points during practice.”
Junior All-Star Jesse Berry of Lafayette Jefferson was impressed with the Indiana All-Stars. Berry had five points, a rebound, and two assists in 17 minutes.
“They are a great team,” Berry said of the seniors. “They played together and looked really good together. They’re going to beat Kentucky.”
Indiana All-Star coach Wood hopes Berry is correct.
“I was shocked at how well we rebounded against some really good athletes,” David Wood said. “We had guys going to the boards. We got after them really well.”
Wood also liked the way the seniors made the extra pass. His team had 21 assists.
“We did a good job getting the ball where we needed to get it,” Wood said. “We didn’t make some shots the first half that we made in the second half, but I was really pleased with their effort.
“I feel good about these guys representing the state of Indiana – these are high-character kids. These are guys that like to play, and they want to play together. We started making shots and kept the pressure on them at both ends.”
Byrd said Purdue fans should not worry about his hamstring. He plans to play in Thursday’s second exhibition game in New Albany.
“It was a little sore during the game,” Byrd said. “Coach Wood didn’t want to take any chances. I wanted to play, but the coaches and trainers did the smart thing by keeping me out.”
Fort Wayne Luers’ Deshaun Thomas, an Ohio State recruit, led the Junior All-Stars with 15 points.
Purdue recruit Terone Johnson of North Central (Indianapolis) had 12 points and five rebounds for the juniors, while future Boilermaker center Travis Carroll (Danville) had seven points and three rebounds.
The Indiana All-Stars will be back in action June 11 against a different set of juniors at New Albany. The team then will host Kentucky June 13 at Conseco Fieldhouse before heading south for a June 14 follow-up tilt at Bellarmine in Louisville.