By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CEDAR BLUFF – Since Sand Rock junior point guard Ty Traffanstedt suffered a season-ending ACL knee injury back on Dec. 11 in a 15-point loss at Cherokee County, junior guard Jonas Browder has been called on to step up his game.
Known for being a corner spot-up 3-point shooter, Browder has stepped into the point guard role and developed more of a slashing attack to the basket.
The Cedar Bluff Tigers found out just how much Browder has added to his game on Tuesday night since their last meeting on Dec. 9.
Browder led the Wildcats with 22 points, including a 16-of-24 performance from the free-throw line (10-of-12 in the fourth quarter). His final two shots from the charity stripe with 9.5 seconds remaining helped Sand Rock hold on for a crucial 70-68 area basketball win.
“Everyone has had to step up. Every position has had more to carry,” said Browder, who also grabbed six rebounds, had an assist and a steal. “Ty was a huge piece. He did a whole lot of things for us. We obviously can’t fill his position fully, but everyone has stepped up and did their part.
“I’ve had to work on my strength and my quickness. Last year I was just a spot-up shooter, but now this year I’ve turned more into a slasher that can shoot threes.”
Sand Rock head coach Nick Traffanstedt said he’s amazed how far along Browder has come along.
“Jumping into that right in the middle of the year is tough, but he’s doing an excellent job at the point guard position,” Coach Traffanstedt said. “We’ve had a couple of injuries and have switched some positions, moved some people around. We were using him in the corners, but now he’s playing point guard and all the pressure is on him.”
Cedar Bluff coach Johnny Amison said he warned the Tigers about Browder’s new slasher role before Tuesday’s game, but defending against him is easier said than done.
“It’s tough,” Amison said. “I told them that’s what he’s been doing lately. The last game against Fyffe, he shot 20 free throws or somewhere in there, but he doesn’t just shoot them. He makes them. He played tough, played physical. He was creating a lot of contact and finishing through that contact. You just have to tip your cap to him. He did a good job.”
But give the Tigers (11-7) credit. They didn’t back down from the challenge.
After trailing 36-27 at halftime, Cedar Bluff made it a 54-50 game heading into the fourth quarter. A mini 5-0 run to begin the fourth put Sand Rock (14-4) out front 59-50, but the Tigers kept clawing their way back.
A Zach Jones 3-pointer with 28 seconds remaining brought the Tigers back within four at 68-64. A Jones steal and basket with 19.7 seconds to go closed the deficit to a basket at 68-66.
But Browder calmly sank his last two free throws of the game after being fouled with 9.5 seconds remaining to seal the win. Cedar Bluff’s Keondre Wynn had a rebound and put back at the buzzer for the final.
“That was disappointing to lose that one on our floor, but we are learning to fight,” Amison said. “We’re learning that the game’s not over, even if we go down 6, 7, 8 (points). Basketball is a game of runs. If you keep playing hard, then you’re going to get on a run. We’re learning. We’re getting there. We’re knocking on the door.”
Shon Gleen led the Tigers with 22 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Jones tossed in 20 points. Keondre and Zyrese Wynn both finished with seven points.
Wyatt Miller managed 19 points and 13 rebounds for Sand Rock. Elijah Hood had 13 points, five steals, four rebounds, and three assists. Will Cleere came away with nine points, nine boards, and two blocks. Jaxon Bruce finished with seven points, five rebounds, two steals, and an assist.
As a team, the Wildcats connected on 31-of-44 shots from the free-throw line. Cedar Bluff was 20-for-33 from the charity stripe.
“They shot way better than we did (from the line),” Amison said. “To me that’s what put them over the top.”
