Mt. Vernon sophomore Julien Smith passes the ball in a game against New Castle. Smith was the Marauders top scorer in the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament in Kokomo.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
Staff report
After defeating No. 20 (Indiana Basketball Coaches Association) Plainfield in a Friday quarterfinal game, Mt. Vernon’s boys basketball team lost two tight contests Saturday to finish fourth in the Phil Cox Memorial Tournament in Kokomo.
In a semifinal game Saturday against Jeffersonville, the Marauders lost 58-52.
Down 24-23 at halftime, the Marauders were outscored 18-10 in the third quarter. The game had eight lead changes and two ties.
Sophomore guard Julien Smith led Mt. Vernon with 23 points. He hit 3 of 4 shots from 3-point range. Elijah Parra had a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. R’mani Wells scored seven and Tanner Teschendorf added six.
Wells was the top rebounder with five. Smith had three assists and Teschendorf had three steals.
In the consolation game, Mt. Vernon lost 49-48 to South Bend Riley.
Riley’s Marvin Schindler hit a late 3-pointer for the go-ahead points.
Played closely like Saturday’s opener, the game had 10 lead changes and six ties.
Smith and Parra had 16 points apiece. Smith was hot from long range, connecting on 5 of 8 3-pointers. Teschendorf scored eight. Wells and Brady Fitzgerald had three points each. Tyler Davis had two.
Teschendorf was the top rebounder with seven. Aden Daugherty grabbed five. Ryker Baer had three assists and Parra had two steals.
Jeffersonville came into the tournament receiving votes in the IBCA poll. Riley (9-2) was ranked No. 17.
In the last released Associated Press Class 4A poll, Plainfield (7-3) was No.13 and Riley was No. 17.
No. 8 Kokomo (9-2) beat Jeffersonville (5-3) in the championship game.
Mt. Vernon (5-4) returns to action Friday with a home game against Columbus East (3-5).
