In the 59th edition of the Knights of Columbus Bob Stras Dallas Classic basketball tournament, the Rangers faced off against some of the top talents in the Metroplex. The field consisted of Lovejoy, Sachse, Hillcrest, Mesquite, Fort Worth South Hills, Frisco Centennial, and of course the home team Jesuit Rangers. The battle for gold started with a first-round matchup between our Rangers and the visiting South Hills Scorpions.
“This tournament will really help the team in the long run and we learned a lot of good lessons.” – Justin Kemp ’24
Jesuit Dallas vs Fort Worth South Hills
The Rangers first game started at 7 PM on December 1st (Thursday). They faced off against the South Hills Scorpions, a returning team from last year’s KOC tournament. The Scorpions presented a unique challenge to the Rangers as they would hope to spoil the home team’s tournament hopes.
Sadly for the Fort Worth South Hills squad, Coach Hill’s team would come out of the gates firing. In only the first half the Rangers outscored the opposing team 43-12 while shooting at a clip of 56.7% from the field.
The second half would be no different while the Rangers finished off the Scorpions with a final score of 76-26 in favor of Jesuit. Key player performances were Tai Kryger ’23 with 13 points and 5 boards and the big man Will Bronson ’24 who put up 12 points, shooting 69%.
This win in which the Rangers forced 24 turnovers and held the scorpions to 33.3% shooting from the field would set up a semifinal showdown between Jesuit and Frisco Centennial on the night of the annual teddy bear toss.
Jesuit Dallas vs Frisco Centennial
The following night, Dylan Gibbons ’23-led the Rangers matched up against a tough Frisco Centennial team led by 6’5 big man Nikhil Prabu. I felt somewhat nervous going into this game as the Titans looked very efficient and dangerous in their opening game. The Rangers would ease my nerves early on through a 9-point lead in the 1st quarter.
A third-quarter run would increase this lead to 18 and ruin the Titans Friday night with a 64-46 victory for Jesuit Dallas. Young combo guard Caleb Steger ’25 led the Rangers in points. Senior Tai Kryger ’23 would continue his hot streak with a 15-point effort combined with 7 boards.
3-point plays were key for Jesuit while they connected half of their shots from long range. Their tremendous defensive effort was also apparent, holding the Titans to 33.3% from the field.
With the win over Frisco Centennial, the Rangers would move on to 8-4 on the season. The victory also secured their ticket to the championship in which they’d face the 17th-ranked team in Texas 5A, the Lovejoy Leopards.
Jesuit Dallas vs Lovejoy
The stage was set for a matchup between the two top teams of the tournament, the Rangers and the Leopards. Utah State commit Karson Templin led the Leopards into this game as a force in the paint and a matchup nightmare for defenses.
In the first quarter, the Leopards took a 4-point lead of 12-8. Lovejoy’s defensive talent became very apparent early on while the Rangers only shot 27.3% in the first half. Templin and the rest of the offensive shot at a clip of 57.3% from the field in the second quarter, extending their lead to 31-19 at the half.
Halftime adjustments were key for Coach Hill’s squad as they came out in the second half firing on all cylinders. Shooting from the field was an issue in the first half but was quickly resolved thanks to Senior guard Dylan Gibbons. Gibbons ’23 was a man passed, scoring 14 points in the game, most coming following the intermission. The trio of Gibbons ’23, Bronson ’24, and Kemp ’24 fueled a 21-point effort in the third quarter, outscoring Lovejoy by 9 points.
This comeback effort would come to the closing minutes of the game. Two big three-pointers from the sharpshooter Kemp ’24 decreased the Leopard’s lead to only 1 possession. Lovejoy would drain key free throws and the Rangers simply ran out of time. Lovejoy would finish with a 54-52 victory.
“In the first half, we couldn’t get it going offensively and we weren’t dialed in defensively. But in the second half, we came out with high intensity and almost came back.” – Justin Kemp ’24
Dylan Gibbons led the Rangers in points scoring 14. Justin Kemp ’24 also put up 13 of his own. Bronson ’24 had 10 points of his own followed by 4 rebounds.
Analysis
Overall, the tournament showcased the Ranger’s exceptional ability to score points at a high level. The Jesuit squad also exhibited tremendous improvements on the defensive end holding opponents to 36.6 points per game. Lovejoy Head Coach Kyle Herrema commended the Rangers for their impressive shooting, one of the key strengths of Jesuit’s offense.
Dylan Gibbons ’23 and Tai Kryger ’23 really stepped up during these three days, especially with finishing their shots in the paint even against bigger opponents. Will Bronson’s performance against three-star big man Karson Templin, cemented him as a big man who can play with anyone. Juniors Kemp and Gramlich came off the bench bringing the heat against opposing teams. Gramlich brings a stifling defensive presence and ability playmake, while Kemp has been a lights-out shooter all season.
This Rangers team has improved each week and will definitely be playing their best basketball during district play.
Stay tuned to The Roundup for more Jesuit basketball news!
