The 6'4” junior poured in 20 points and held his own defending Cumberland Gap's senior post standout A.J. Fultz, as the Bobcats defeated the Panthers 59-47.
Turner's sister, Brandi, is married to Cumberland Gap coach Sherrill King.
“Jordan did a tremendous job for us on Fultz defensively,” said Bell coach Eddie Whitaker. “Bryce Mickey may not have put up a lot of numbers, but he also played a super game. Those two kids are steadily getting better and they're really helping our team.”
Turner scored ten points and Mickey added six as the Bobcats took control of the game by outscoring Cumberland Gap 21-8 from the final two minutes of the second quarter to the end of the third.
“Their pressure gave us a lot of problems. We never got into any type of rhythm on offense,” said King. “This was the first time we've looked that out of sync all season.”
Bell's 2-2-1 zone press forced the ball into the hands of the Cumberland Gap's big players in the backcourt. They were able to create turnovers and keep the Panthers from getting into their offense.
“Their back people were rotating on defense really well and not letting our guys get open behind them,” King said. “Then when we did get open shots, we didn't knock them down. We just didn't play really well tonight.”
The Panthers were playing without junior forward Joey McFall, who is nursing a sprained ankle. His main back-up, Jonathan Arnold, played despite being hobbled with a sore ankle as well. Adam Nelson, a 6'7” sophomore forward/center, played despite apparently aggravating an ankle injury in the JV game.
“They had a couple of kids out tonight and I think that played into their performance,” coach Whitaker said.
The Bobcats got an emotional lift from the return of senior forward Ryan Whitaker. He had been out since December after breaking a bone in his ankle.
“He was really excited when I told him today I was going to let him warm up with the team,” coach Whitaker, who is also Ryan's dad said. “We worked him out before the game and he said he could play if we needed him.
“I told him we'd play him if we got in the right situation and everything just worked out really well. Hopefully we've got time to play him back into shape, he's still a little slow out there, but just having his leadership is going to be boost for us.”
Freshman guard Shawnta Zachery had the hot hand early for the Bobcats. He hit a layup, a 3-pointer and a long two to get the Bell County offense rolling. Turner and Trey Goins combined for ten points in the quarter as the Bobcats raced out to a 21-7 lead.
The game was physical and King picked up a technical foul near the end of the quarter after several calls seemed to go against the Panthers.
The Bobcats went cold early in the second quarter and Cumberland Gap took advantage. Tyler Brim scored five points and Fultz, Clay Bisceglia, Chris Warren and Arnold all hit baskets during an 18-4 run that tied the game.
“We got in a hurry and didn't execute during that time,” Whitaker said. “When you're not making shots, you've got to slow it down and we never did that.”
Bell got baskets from Turner and Mickey and two free throws apiece from Ryan Whitaker and Goins as they closed the first half on a 9-0 run to take a 34-25 lead into the break.
“I chewed them up a little at the half. That seemed settled them down and got them playing right,” coach Whitaker said. “Sometimes getting to halftime is the best thing that can happen for you.”
The Bobcats slowed the tempo and turned up their defensive intensity in the third period. Turner had six points and Mickey and Zachery combined for six more as Bell extended their lead to 46-33 by the end off the quarter.
Bell continued to pull away in the fourth and King was tossed after picking up a second technical with 2:22 to go in the game and his team trailing 54-38.
“I thought officiating was terrible,” he said. “I didn't think I deserved that last “T” - I made sure I was going to get that first one,” King said, adding that calls weren't the deciding factor in the game.
“They just out-played us,” he said.
King was an assistant at Bell High for six years before taking the head job at Cumberland Gap.
“I've got a lot of family over here and everything. I want to do well, but it's not like this is a big rivalry for us or anything,” he said. “I'm still good friends with Eddie, they're lucky to have him and I thing sometimes he doesn't get the credit he deserves.”
Cumberland Gap (16-7) has to turn right around and travel to Rutledge today for a district game.
Bell County improves to 17-6 on the season. They travel to Cumberland on Tuesday. At 8-1 in the district they can wrap up the regular season title with a win over the Redskins.
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Alec Lewis scored 18 points and Taylor Lowe added 17 to lead Cumberland Gap to a 57-53 overtime win in the JV game.
Lewis and Lowe each scored three points in the extra period.
Shawn Smith hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Bell County to force tie the game at 49. He had eight points in the game. The Bobcats were led by Josh Whitaker's 21 points. Tyler Brooks and Robert Warren chipped in seven each.
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Cumberland Gap 7 18 8 14 - 47
Bell County 21 13 12 13 - 59
CUMBERLAND GAP: Clay Bisceglia 11, A.J. Fultz 11, Chris Warren 8, Tyler Brim 8, Taylor Lowe 3, Adam Nelson 3, Jonathan Arnold 3.
BELL COUNTY: Jordan Turner 20, Trey Goins 10, Shawnta Zachery 9, Bryce Mickey 8, Ryan Whitaker 7, Jeremy Sanders 5.
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