Plymouth led Tuesday’s boys basketball game with visiting Jimtown by as many as 12 in the second quarter but couldn’t sustain it while battling foul trouble.
At times, as many as four Pilgrim starters were on the bench as the Jimmies battled back to trail by just three at halftime, 29-26.
That’s when Kadyn Ellery took over. The 6’5″ junior scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the third period as Plymouth (3-1) re-established a double-digit lead and defeated Jimtown, 66-53.
Plymouth coach Joel Grindle impressed by Ellery’s third quarter outburst after missing time in the first half with foul trouble.
Starting guard Preston Wolfe connected on three of his four three-point field goals in the first quarter but also went to the bench early with fouls. Teammate Trenton Van Duyne made up for the personnel losses handling the ball and battling down low. Van Duyne scored nine points. Grindle knows the 6’0″ junior was undersized down low battling with Jimtown’s 6’4″ Bishop Williams and 6’6″ Branden King. But the head coach says his strength and grit make up for that.
Jimtown (0-3) shot 20 more free throws than Plymouth (22-for-35) and outscored the Pilgrims at the line, 22-10.
Coby Walters scored 14 for Plymouth. It was his fourth game in as many outings in double figures this season.
Plymouth will host #11 (3A) Mishawaka Marian Friday. Marian is 1-3 with a victory over Goshen in the season opener. The Knights losses include Tuesday to Mishawaka, 40-38. Road losses in the previous two games occurred at #22 (4A) South Bend Riley and #10 (2A) Fort Wayne Bishop Luers. Those opponents are a combined 8-0 on the season.
