The final regular-season game of the year inevitably brings with it a sentimental resolve for the senior class, but the seven Indian River seniors on the boys basketball roster this year weren’t the only ones who came to shine as they pulled off a crucial and exhilarating win on Tuesday, hosting Delmar.
Coastal Point • Jesse Pryor
Indian River’s Jeremy Purnell brings it strong during IR’s Tuesday, Feb. 19 game against Delmar.
IR sophomore Keion Sturgis knew he had something to prove and bring to the team, as well, racking up a career-high 37 points on the night in the Indians’ 93-82 triumph over the Wildcats.
After trailing 15-24 by the end of the first quarter of the game, Indian River knew they had to turn things up, and they did just that as Sturgis pounded out 17 points alone in second. By halftime, the Indians had pulled ahead 38-34.
Sturgis found himself in the right spot throughout the remainder of the game, as unselfish pass after unselfish pass made its way in his hands, and ultimately, into the net. “Everyone kept a positive attitude tonight,” said Sturgis. “We were working together well and stayed focused.”
“We needed that one,” said Indians head coach Phil Mead. “I think we surprised some people tonight and played a lot better than a lot of people planned on.” The Indians were able to sweep Delmar this season, capitalizing earlier in January against the Wildcats, 72-54.
“We had dug ourselves a little bit of a hole the first quarter” said Mead, looking at Tuesday’s rematch. “We’d chip away at it. Every time we’d make a little run, we’d allow a few turnovers and let them catch back up again.
“The last three minutes, we really turned it up,” he said. “The intensity really came out and everyone was working with each other. Our point guard, Tyree Oliver, hit a big three-pointer to put us back up by a few. He’s sort of been the leader. He pumps it up and gets everybody going. I can trust him to make that shot and that gets the rest of the team into it.”
Senior Jeremy Purnell finished the night with 20 points.
“We started turning it around,” he said, noting improvements after trailing early in the game. “We were completing more passes, and making up for turnovers. Everybody kept their cool and no one talked back to the refs. Everyone on the team had their heads in the game.”
Guard Deshawn Godwin and point guard Tyree Oliver both proved instrumental for the Indians’ offense, scoring 11 and nine points for the Indians, respectively. Senior Cory Myles added eight points in this week’s win.
Purnell tallied several dunks to help amp up the fans, as well as his teammates.
“[The dunks] helped turn things on for us,” he said. “It kept the momentum going and we took it from there.”
Purnell, a regular starter, is one of seven seniors leaving the squad after this year. A final regular-season win against a Helopen South rival was not only bittersweet, but promising, as the Indians head into the post-season with an 8-3 conference record, only slipping to Woodbridge twice and once to Milford.
Woodbridge, 12-0 in the Henlopen South Conference, pending Tuesday’s matchup hosting Milford, sits at the top with a promising record as they rank first in the state heading into playoffs. The Indians finished 12-9 overall.
“It was a pretty good year,” said Purnell, whose playing time was limited last year due to a hand injury. “I wasn’t out there as much last year, but it was nice to be able to play more and come back strong.”
Delmar senior Kevin Ricketts, the leading scorer in the state, has averaged 23.9 points per game through this year. He kept the Indians on their toes, tallying 28 points for the Cats, 21 of which came in the second half.
“Just looking at box scores,” Mead added, “Delmar has become a strong team. They’ve really developed nicely and have come together as a team over the year. We knew Ricketts would come in and put up some points. He played very well, and we never really had a solution for it.”
Sturgis, still with two more years at IR ahead of him, has more than enough time to perfect his already impressive skills. He plans to stick with basketball, playing in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) league this spring and following up with more hoops in the summer.
“Keion [Sturgis] has had a real nose for the basket the past few nights,” said Mead. “He’s put up over 60 points in the last two games. He’s very athletic, so he’s physically capable, but he hasn’t brought that intensity until the last few games. Hopefully, that’s something he can carryover into the post-season and the next years.”
The Indians solidified a win last week against conference rival Laurel, as well.
With the regular season now at a close, and more than half his roster graduating in May, Mead analyzed some of his adjustments for next year.
“I’m definitely going to miss my seniors after this year,” admitted Mead, “just like any coach. I’m going straight to not having a true center and a true post player next year, so that will change my offensive philosophy around a lot.
“At the same time, however, I’ve got guys coming up that play really well together,” he said. “Keion’s a sophomore, Tyree’s a junior, so we have some underclassmen that will be stepping it back up.”
For now, however, focus is dead ahead for Mead and his boys as Tuesday’s win will more than likely net the Indians a seed in the state playoffs. Results and brackets are expected to be released this weekend, with game scheduling as early as next week, following continuing games this week.
Stay tuned to www.coastalpoint.com for more results and developing updates through the post-season.