MIDLAND Jamobrione Anderson provided defensive intensity for the Permian boys basketball team against Lubbock-Cooper Friday at the Chaparral Center.
He was instrumental in helping the Panthers pick up a 60-55 victory in the Tall City Oilman’s Invitational Tournament, sealing the game with a late steal that set up a dunk for Tremayne Baty in the fourth quarter.
Anderson said getting the final stop was the only thing on his mind as the clock wound down in regulation with a close score.
“We had to get the win, defense wins games so I had to work hard on my defense to get this steal to win this game,” Anderson said.
It wasn’t the only time Anderson disrupted an offensive possession from the Pirates, as he created multiple turnovers through the first half along with Baty and Calvione Callicutt.
The Panthers (12-1 overall) set the tone early with consistent defensive switches in the first quarter, then used their transition offense to build up a 19-9 lead.
Permian head coach Steven Flores said the tenacity his team showed on defense comes down to the effort each player is willing to give.
“That’s what we preach every single day, we’ve been preaching it,” Flores said. “In tournament play, it affects it just a little bit because you don’t get to scout too many teams right away.
“The kids have got to learn to adjust on the fly.”
Although Permian exhibited speed on both ends of the floor, Lubbock-Cooper started using physicality to its advantage in the second quarter.
Harry Hill scored six points for the Pirates as they outscored the Panthers 17-6 to take a one-point lead into halftime.
The third quarter was highly contested, with Permian able to find another groove on defense to jump back in front.
Anderson provided a steal and scored a layup to close out the period with Permian leading by three points.
Baty was efficient in the game’s final quarter, scoring 10 points to help the Panthers pull away from the Pirates.
Flores said his team has to get through its offensive slump and avoid showings like the second quarter if it wants to continue grabbing convincing victories the rest of the campaign.
“Right now we run a motion offense, right now we’re not screening,” Flores said. “We’re tired basically, we’re not moving and we don’t relocate.”
After the contest, Flores said he was satisfied with the on-ball defense Anderson, Baty and Callicutt were able to generate.
Anderson said coming up with big defensive plays is a team effort and it takes effective communication to create turnovers.
“My team pushed me to work that hard, we all work as a team to get there,” Anderson said.
Anderson led the Panthers with 15 points, followed by Baty who put up 14.
To fix their offensive issues, Flores wants to see his team match the energy it uses on defense when the ball is in his players’ hands.
“We’ve got to up our pace, the intensity we have on defense is the intensity we’ve got to have on offense and sometimes we don’t,” Flores said. “We look for other guys to make plays instead of each individual wanting to make a play.”
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Permian 60, Lubbock-Cooper 55
Friday, Chaparral Center, Midland
Permian (12-1)
Tremayne Baty 5 4-4 14, Ben Saldivar 3 2-2 8, Corey McCoy 0 0-0 0, Calvione Callicutt 3 3-3 9, Elijah Minjarez 0 0-0 0, Ryale Moses 2 0-0 4, Rodney Hall 0 0-0 0, Joe Aguilar 0 0-0 0, Ardagious McBride 0 0-0 0, Jamobrione Anderson 6 3-5 15, Zech Leija 0 0-0 0, Brian Huitron 0 0-0 0, Race Herr 4 1-1 10. Totals 23 13-15 60.
Lubbock-Cooper (4-9)
Connor Gant 1 2-3 4, Landon Swofford 0 0-0 0, Amaree Garmon 6 2-4 15, Shelton Hearon 2 5-7 9, Noah Hall 3 0-0 8, Harry Hill 4 2-2 12, Brady Watson 0 0-0 0, Brayden Tomme 0 2-2 2, Cole Cleaveland 1 1-1 3, Hayden Bradley 1 0-1 2. Totals 18 14-20 55.
Permian……………… 19…. 6 16 19 — 60
Lubbock-Cooper……. 9.. 17 12 17 — 55
3-Point goals — Permian 1 (Herr 1), Lubbock-Cooper 5 (Hall 2, Hill 2, Garmon 1). Total fouls — Permian 19, Lubbock-Cooper 16. Fouled out — Permian (Callicutt), Lubbock-Cooper (Cleaveland). Technical fouls — None.
