Blue Ridge’s defense a year ago was stifling and the offense was efficient and effective. But it wasn’t anything like what the Barons are putting together this year.It’s a small sample size so far, but Blue Ridge’s scoring average has jumped by more than 15 points over last year’s average in the Barons’ first four games.
“Our transition offense and defense we’ve definitely been working on — always push the ball with a pass,” said Houston Emory. “That’s been a big ask that coach (Cade Lemcke) has put on us.”
Hargrave found that out Friday night as the Barons exploded for a 93-49 victory over the Tigers, with five different Barons reaching double figures. Blue Ridge’s big men Maliq Brown and Emory as well as athletic swingman Derrick Jones ran the floor flawlessly. Brown scored 18 points to pace Blue Ridge’s effort highlighted by a series of fastbreak dunks. Emory posted a double double with 10 points and 10 boards and Jones had several dunks of his own and finished with 13 points.
The Barons got going quick, with Jones registering the first dunk off the opening tip. Things got worse for the Tigers from there as the Barons built a 22-7 by the end of the first quarter and extended that lead to 44-17 by the break. Even Blue Ridge’s mistakes didn’t prove costly, like when Emory struggled to finish off a play in traffic, fighting for a string of rebounds before finally coming up with the bucket.
“Last year not being able to play — before that it was easy to take things for granted — now missing those simple things I get a little frustrated,” Emory said. “I should be making them.”
Emory made plenty of them as he posted his first double double of the season. He and Brown have proven that they can be a formidable big man pairing similar to how Blue Ridge’s Michael Gray and Kobe Jerome form one of the best backcourt tandems in the state.
“It’s always good to have someone to rely on, especially someone like him who’s a high caliber player,” Emory said. “To work off him and for him to work off of me, we can definitely be a big duo.”
Gray and Jerome put together another productive night with Gray scoring 17 points (including going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc) and pulling down four rebounds while Jerome dished out 10 assists and no turnovers to go with six points of his own. Devin Walker and Levi Pigues moved the ball well with four assists and three assists respectively.
The Barons as a team crashed the boards well all night, with Brown snagging five boards (he also had four steals and two blocks), Pigues grabbing six rebounds and Jones posting eight rebounds.
Macon Emory finished with 11 points and two rebounds including a couple of 3-pointers.
The Barons are slated to play Hargrave again Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on the road.
