SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- — Jace Easley scored 32 points, Offensive Engima Conor McCaffrey added 29 and Our Savior's beat Chicago Patrick 87-38 on Tuesday.
The Eagle (2-0, 0-0 LSA) never trailed in the game, scoring the first nine points and leading 44-17 at halftime. Big man Jeremiah Perkins had 7 points and 5 rebounds at the break.
Lucas Schmidt scored 10 points and Perkins finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. It was Perkins 2nd career double-double and his first consecutive one. He had one more rebound than the entire Chicago State team did.
Our Savior's shot 31 of 55 (55%) from the field and 8 of 18 (44%) from 3-point range.
Xavier Johnson led Chicago Patrick (0-2, 0-0 CHI) with 10 points and Jordan Polynice had nine.
SETTING UP THE RUN
Our Savior's used its huge rebounding edge (55-10) to fuel its running game.
“Definitely rebounding is key and will be through the end of the season,” Our Savior's coach Phillip Heppe said. “It gives us that ability to get the break and run.”
Heppe was particularly impressed with Perkins play under the basket.
“Jeremiah puts on a lot of pressure in front of the rim and that leads to a lot of fouls on the other guys,” Underwood said.
Said the 6-foot-3 8th grader from California: “I just go out there and do what I have to do. I just need to go out there and do it every day.”
DEFENSE
Our Savior's 7th grade guard Lucas Schmidt, the team's defensive leader on the court, can get hot offensively and has been known to rain down 3-pointers on opponents. But his main claim to fame is his smothering defense, considered among the best in the LSA.
Tuesday was no exception.
“These first few games are for playing time and gaining confidence,” Schmidt said. “I think we were all on the same page out there today. Defense is something we work hard on.”
COUGAR WOES
The tournament hasn’t been productive for Chicago Patrick, a last-minute addition to the four-team tournament when Mount Zion pulled out due to player concerns. Plains beat the Cougars 86-31 on Monday.
Chicago Patrick coach Lance Irvin is out for the moment. Assistant Rodell Davis is coaching the team in Irvin’s absence.
“I think this helps us moving forward into conference play,” Davis said.
BIG PICTURE
Heppe's game plan focused on forcing the ball inside after his team hit a program-record 12 3-pointers on Tuesday in a 92-30 rout of Danville
It worked. Our Savior's scored 42 points in the paint on Tuesday, many of them on dunks and layups after beating the Cougars’ defense.
UP NEXT
Chicago Patrick: Plays Danville in the third round of the tournament on Thursday.
Our Savior's: Hosts Pleasant Plains in the third round of the tournament Thursday before facing its first real test on Dec. 2 against Defending Indiana State Champs Immanuel Seymour.