Jeff Adams (23) of Vandercook Lake High School battles for inside position during a game against Springport High School on Monday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Following most cross country meets, Vandercook Lake High School athlete Andrew Frohm wanders off by himself into oblivion – hardly talking to anyone.
It could be called lone-wolf syndrome.
That all changes when he has a few teammates behind him.
Frohm scored 23 points and led the court in verbal discussions in a 56-51 win over Springport High School to start the 2019-2020 boys’ basketball season.
Frohm, an all-state cross country runner, hit a number of big 3-point shots in the opening-night contest.
“The difference (between cross country and basketball) is I have a team to back me up,” Frohm said. “Some guys were out tonight, so I knew I was going to have to play a lot.
“We figured out that we were not going to win if we didn’t start playing defense.”
The Jayhawks proved that, falling behind 21-12 after the first eight minutes of action. Springport’s Shawn Vogt hit three, 3-point baskets in the quarter as everything seems to fall in for the Spartans.
“We came out with a ton of energy and everything was going in,” SHS first-year Coach Derek Seidl said. “We did a good job of holding onto the lead in the first three quarters.”
Springport had foul trouble to start the second quarter, being called for the first four fouls. Frohm hit a 3-point with just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter giving VCL a short-term lead. Springport outscored the Jayhawks 10-3 to end the quarter for a 31-25 halftime lead.
Vandercook outscored Springport 7-3 in the third quarter to pull within two points going into the final eight minutes of the game.
Baskets by Jabari Banford and Gaven Cooper gave the Jayhawks a brief lead to start the fourth quarter.
A 13-5 run by VCL put the Jayhawks in control midway through the fourth quarter. Three-point baskets by Frohm and Cooper were huge in the run.
A big 3-point basket by Vogt gave Springport hope with two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the game. The Spartans pulled within one point with the shot.
But the Jayhawks made 6-of-9 free throws in the final 72 seconds of the game to pull out the win.
Frohm finished with 10 rebounds and Cooper scored 14 points and made three steals for the Jayhawks (1-0) in the win. C.J. Adams also added eight rebounds for VCL.
“Once we started playing transition defense, we played better,” VCL Coach James Bradley said. “I tell our players all the time that basketball is a game of runs.”
Springport was led by Vogt and Gage Rohde with 14 points apiece. McCartney Robinson scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Springport. Mitch Nutt finished with six rebounds and five assists for Springport (0-1).
