The Mount Vernon boys’ basketball team struggled to overcome turnovers and rebounding deficiencies in a 49-44 loss to Granville on January 11. The defeat dropped the Yellow Jackets to 6-5 on the season, while Granville improved to 8-2.
Mount Vernon head coach Nick Coon pointed to two primary areas of concern: turnovers and offensive rebounding. Granville took advantage of 11 offensive rebounds, creating extra possessions and limiting Mount Vernon’s opportunities. At the same time, Mount Vernon committed 19 turnovers, which disrupted their offensive flow and stymied their scoring efforts.
“We fell short against a good and tough Granville team,” Coon said. “Granville had 11 offensive rebounds, and we had too many empty offensive possessions as we turned the ball over 19 times. We have to clean up those two areas moving forward in order to improve as a basketball team.”
Despite the loss, the Yellow Jackets had strong individual performances, particularly from senior guard Zane Barber. Barber led the team with 18 points and 2 rebounds, consistently keeping Mount Vernon in the game with his scoring ability. Isaiah Columber also contributed with 16 points and 2 rebounds, providing another offensive spark for the Jackets.
“We need those guys to step up when it counts,” Coon said. “Zane and Isaiah are key pieces for us, and they both played hard tonight. We just couldn’t string enough stops together and put together consistent offensive possessions.”
While the offense did its part, the rebounding and defense proved to be more problematic for Mount Vernon. Trace Beck, known for his work on the boards, recorded 9 rebounds but only added 3 points, while Nikos Giakoumas contributed 2 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Giakoumas played a well-rounded game, but his efforts weren’t enough to overcome the team’s overall struggles.
“Defensively, I thought we fought hard at times, but we didn’t capitalize on the chances we created,” Coon noted. “It’s hard to win games when you’re not getting rebounds or limiting second-chance opportunities.”
Granville’s offense was led by Carson Murphy, who finished with 15 points, and Jakob Culver, who added 11. Charlie Wright also contributed 9 points, helping the Blue Aces maintain control throughout the game. Granville’s ability to capitalize on Mount Vernon’s mistakes, especially in the second half, proved to be the difference in the tight contest.
The Yellow Jackets kept it close, but key stretches of turnovers and missed opportunities kept them from completing a comeback. Granville held a slim lead for most of the game, using their rebounding edge and defensive pressure to seal the win.
Next up, Mount Vernon will have a chance to avenge the loss when they travel to Granville for a rematch on Tuesday, January 14. The Yellow Jackets will look to clean up their mistakes and improve in the areas that cost them the game.
