"Hell of a team": Brady Rollyson leads Green to narrow win over Jackson
Coaches Separated at the Scorers' Table in Green vs. Jackson's Second Meeting
Green and Jackson’s second square-off turned into, quite literally, a square off between the two teams.
While Jackson was able to take game one between the two in December, Mark Kinsley’s Bulldogs got an early lead. They would hold onto that lead through the final buzzer. Green left Jackson High School returning the Polar Bears a taste of their home court defeat of the Bulldogs, and the league standings wide open with it.
Junior Anthony Fortunato knocked down two three-pointers in the first minutes, followed by a layup from senior Brady Rollyson to give green an 8-0 lead and forcing Jackson to regroup.
“Since I was making shots, they were playing up on me. Everyone else [were] getting opportunities to score.” Anthony said.
Green kept their eight point lead to ride out the first quarter; and despite Jackson cutting into their comfortable position, Green managed to go into the locker rooms at half with the lead. Jackson juniors Cameron Weekley and Kyle Monterrubio finished with eight, Finefrock led the Polar Bears in scoring at halftime with nine.
“We had to start off with a strong first half…then just work from there.” Rollyson said.
Both teams returned from the first half with a resurgence of toughness. The fast-paced, physical first few minutes shown by both teams returned.
The fourth quarter saw one objective from Jackson: give the ball to Kyle Monterrubio. Monterrubio kept Jackson in the game after finishing through crowded lanes despite the bustle in the paint.
Jackson head coach Tim Debevec’s Polar Bears did whatever it took to find Monterrubio in the paint, or alternatively kicking it out to one of their wings for a corner three. The borderline-hypnotic routine worked for the Bears, as they were able to get within three with 31 seconds left in regulation. Late in the game, Green senior Jarrett Taylor drew a foul, and set a free throw off the rim. The foul stripe gave Jackson another opportunity, and Monterrubio seized it with a layup, narrowing Green's lead to one.
There was a brief pause of play to reconvene after a dispute that resulted in both teams having to return to their locker rooms immediately after regulation.
Jackson got the ball, found junior Cole Baker open in the corner, but Baker's shot bounced off the rim, and his teammates couldn't finish the tip-in.
Brady Rollyson lead the Bulldogs in scoring with 26 points, Anthony Fortunato ended with 17 points on five threes.
Monterrubio led the Polar Bears with 25 points, followed by Mitch Finefrock who had 20.
“That’s a hell of a team…we kept a lead where we were comfortable.” Rollyson said.
Green is now tied with McKinley for first place in the Federal League boys’ basketball standings (8-2, 5-2).
Jackson (8-4, 4-3) falls to third place, tied with Hoover (8-3, 4-3). The Vikings own the head-to-head advantage over the Polar Bears, who defeated Jackson 61-49.
Green will play Canfield tomorrow (as of publishing) at the MLK Classic at Hoover @ 12:30.