Greene County Daily World: High School Sports: UPDATED: Shakamak defeats Turkey Run (12/26/08)

Shakamak junior Tyler Richardson (14) runs the Laker offense while Turkey Run's Spencer Davies defends during a morning game Friday at the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

TERRE HAUTE -- Turkey Run decided that Billy Newton was not going to beat them, using various gimmick defenses to limit the Shakamak junior to six points, 19 under his average.

But Ethan Stanifer made five 3-pointers, in seven attempts, and center Jordan Langford connected on 6 of 7 shots to lead the Lakers to a 52-37 victory in the opening round of the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic at Terre Haute South High School on Friday morning.

Stanifer scored a game-high 19 points while Langford, who came into the game averaging 3.6 ppg with a high game of five points, scored 14 points

"I thought that Billy showed a lot of patience when Turkey Run was playing a box-and-one and a triangle-and-two," said Shakamak Coach Steve Brett, who won his 399th game. "They tried to knock him around a bit, but he did not get frustrated.

"Ethan stepped up and shot the three ball well. Jordan is capable of playing like he did today. It was good to get out of here with a win. Winning beats losing any day of the week."

Turkey Run, who lost for just the second time in six games, used a 10-0 run to turn a 12-6 first-quarter deficit into a 16-12 lead after a 3-pointer by Jacob Weaver with three minutes and 40 seconds remaining in the first half.

Langford, who also had two blocks, two steals, one assist and three rebounds, hit a 10-foot jumper from the baseline to put the Lakers ahead 18-16 at the half.

The Lakers, who also are 4-2, took control with a 16-0 outburst in the third quarter.

John Smith, who contributed six points, six assists, four steals and two rebounds, started the spurt with a steal and lay-up, putting the Lakers ahead 24-20 at the 2:15 mark of the third quarter.

A basket by Tyler Richardson and then another short jumper by Langford put the Lakers up 38-20 with 6:25 remaining.

The Warriors, who went scoreless for 4 1/2 minutes, had 18 turnovers.

"Our defense was able to come up with some turnovers," said Brett, whose Lakers used a trapping zone defense in the half-court to befuddle the Warriors at times. "We did not always play well, but we played well enough to win."

Turkey Run, coached by Union graduate Joey Hart, did get the deficit to single digs -- 41-32 -- midway in the fourth period, but the Lakers closed the game with an 11-5 spurt.

Newton finished with six rebounds as Shakamak had a 24-18 edge on the boards.

Spencer Davies scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting for Turkey Run. Weaver also had 13 points for Turkey Run, who made 14 of 37 shots (.378).

Brett said that winning almost 400 games just means he has been coaching a long time.

The Lakers will play Terre Haute North at 1 p.m. today in a winner's bracket game. Turkey Run will face Linton-Stockton at 10 a.m. today in the loser's bracket.

"We were hoping to play some different teams in this tournament," said Brett, who added he has watched this tournament, remembers the original Wabash Valley Tournament and is happy to be coaching in it.

Wabash Valley Classic

At Terre Haute South

SHAKAMAK (52) -- Billy Newton 3-7 0-0 6, Jordan Langford 6-7 2-4 14, Tyler Richardson 2-12 0-0 5, John Smith 2-4 2-2 6, Ethan Stanifer 5-10 4-4 19, Jacob Stevenson 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Crowe 0-1 0-0 0, Jarred VanHorn 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Borders 0-0 0-0 0. Gerard Lynch 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 19-44 8-10 52.

TURKEY RUN (37) -- Colin Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Jathan Davies 0-3 0-0 0, Seth Marshall 1-3 0-0 3, Jacob Weaver 5-12 1-1 13, Spencer Davies 5-7 0-0 13, Jarrod Wrightsman 0-0 0-0 0, Jon Sowers 0-1 0-0 0, Josh Karr 2-8 1-2 5, Austin Cook 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 14-37 2-3 37.

Shakamak 12 6 13 21 -- 52

Turkey Run 6 10 5 16 -- 37

3-point shooting -- Shakamak 5-15 (Stanifer 5-7, Richardson 106, Newton 0-2), Turkey Run 7-18 (S. Davies 3-4, Weaver 2-9, Cook 1-1, Marshall 1-3, Karr 0-1). Fouls -- Shakamak 5, Turkey Run 10. Fouled out -- None. Rebounds -- Shakamak 24 (Newton 6), Turkey Run 18 (Karr 5). Assists -- Shakamak 15 (Smith 6), Turkey Run 8 (Karr 5). Steals -- Shakamak 12 (Smith 4), Turkey Run 5 (Gaver 2, Harrison 2). Turnovers -- Shakamak 15 (Smith 3, Newton 3), Turkey Run 18 (Weaver 4). Blocks -- Shakamak 2 (Langford 2), Turkey Run 2 (Weaver, Cook).