Dave Morrison
James Monroe’s Collin Fox set a Class A state tournament record in the Mavericks 76-47 semifinal win against Clay-Battelle Friday at the Charleston Coliseum.
The Mavericks, who forced 30 turnovers, also set a team record with 23 steals.
The records kept are since 2006, about the time seeding was instituted.
Fox and Matt Sauvage said his teammates had as much to do with the record as he did.
“Ten steals is impressive,” Sauvage said. “I’m not taking anything from Collin, Eli had six, I don’t discredit that. Collin has 10, Eli has six but a lot of that is off pressure that the other players are giving to that individual and Collin is able to read that. There is very little space to see anything.”
Fox agreed.
“Most of those steals I give credit to the team,” Fox said. “It comes from them trapping and I’m just waiting to pick off the pass. Those traps make it hard to make a good pass.”
Fox didn’t shot the ball well but defense offered another way to help the team.
“These guys are so experienced have so many years together, they realize when one thing is not going right I’m going to make up for it with this,” Sauvage said. “What Collin does greatis he reads the game. If our guys are in the traps where they are supposed to be he is able to read what that offensive player is trying to do out of the trap. That’s one of his best things on the defensive end is he reads shat that offensive player is going to do and he’s reading it before they even do it.”
“It’s good, but I especially like it because it helps the team,” Fox said.
Eli Allen, named Gatorade West Virginia Player of the Year Wednesday, had 26 points on 11 of 17 shooting with seven assists, six rebounds and six steals. Owen Jackson tied a career high with 16 of the bench. He was 7 of 10 shooting, much needed on a night when Fox and Burks were scoring under their season averages.
“Our focus was on their three scorers and then helping off 33 and he stepped up today,” Clay-Battelle coach Josh Kiser said.
James Monroe used a stout defensive effort in the first half, holding the CeeBees to 15 points to lead 34-15 at the break.
“Good win,” Sauvage said. “Clay-Battelle is a good team, hats off to them for what they’ve done. Great team. Tonight offensively in the first half, especially in eh first quarter, we struggled just a little. We just didn’t hit shots.”
James. Monroe was 30 of 70 shooting. (42.9 percent)
