Vann drives Panthers to win

HS BASKETBALL
By JAKE BROWN
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND — Jourdan Vann spent the last part of his warmups Friday taking progressively longer 3-pointers with a hand in his face.

The guard for the Washington High boys basketball team buried most of them.

During Washington's ensuing 83-42 win over St. Joseph's at Alumni Gym, Vann took nine shots from distance and buried most of those, too.

The senior went 6-for-9 from beyond the 3-point line en route to a game-high 25 points.

"It's a real good advantage having three years under my belt," said Vann, a three-year starter. "I just know right off the bat (coach Chad Johnston) always wants me to look for my shot and not over-pass. I'm used to it."

And Vann was just a portion of Washington's shooting barrage.

The Panthers (13-3, 4-1 NIC) went 14-for-21 from beyond the arc and shot 59 percent from the field overall.

Forward Kennis White chipped in 22 points.

But it was Washington's pressure defense that got things started, holding St. Joe (4-11, 1-6) to just six first-quarter points.

Washington ran out to a 13-1 lead a little over midway through the first quarter after a couple 3-pointers by Vann and a breakaway layup by guard Teven Watson.

Back-to-back buckets by St. Joe made it 13-6, but then a short jumper and a 3-pointer by Vann, followed by bucket from Jerron Jamerson, stretched the lead to 20-6 heading into the second quarter.

"I was so happy with our defense," Johnston said. "Our defensive intensity was probably one of into March." The Panthers scored 20 more points in the second quarter to make it 40-17 at halftime, then buried the Indians in the third quarter.

Washington made nine field goals in the third — six of them 3-pointers — and went on a 25-2 run to open up the second half.

From there, St. Joe hung in there, but it was too late.

"(Washington) got on us early, and we weren't composed," St. Joe coach Marty Harshman said. "We were throwing passes to guys that weren't open and making it very easy on them."

WASHINGTON 83, ST. JOSEPH'S 42

At Alumni Gym

WASHINGTON (83): Jourdan Vann 7 5-5 25, Teven Watson 3 0-0 8, Jarell Henry 4 0-1 11, Troy Franklin 1 1-2 3, Jordan Person 0 0-1 0, Jerron Jamerson 1 1-2 3, Jarrett Fleming 1 0-0 2, Kennis White 8 3-3 22, Mike Carter 1 1-1 3, Bo Calhoun 3 0-0 6. TOTALS: 29 11-15 83.

ST. JOSEPH'S (42): Sean Hart 1 1-2 4, Andrew Vasquez 1 0-0 3, Mike Kendzicky 1 0-0 3, Chris Shaw 0 0-0 0, Alex Payne 1 0-0 2, Joey Hecklinski 2 2-2 6, Deric Freymouth 1 0-0 2, Mike Bradley 2 1-2 5, John Parakowski 3 2-2 9, Matt Mackowiak 1 0-0 2, Tim Bishop 0 0-0 0, Brian
O'Connor 1 0-2 3, Matt Schwitz 0 0-2 0, Mike Zientara 0 3-4 3. TOTALS: 14 9-16 42.

Washington 20 40 66 83
St. Joe 6 17 27 42

3-point goals: Washington 14 (Vann 6, Henry 3, White 3, Watson 2), St. Joe 5 (O'Connor, Hart, Vasquez, Kendzicky, Parakowski). Total fouls (fouled out): Washington 13 (none), St. Joe 18 (none). Shooting: Washington 29-of-49 (59 percent), St. Joe 14-of-40 (35 percent). Rebounds:
Washington 26 (Fleming 7), St. Joe 26 (Parakowski 6). Turnovers: Washington 7, St. Joe 18. JV score: Washington 42, St. Joe 29. Varsity records: Washington 13-3 (4-1), St. Joe 4-11, (1-6).