Jimtown High School

Giant task awaits Jimmies in Semi-state battle By Red Williams Freelance Sportswriter MICHIGAN CITY – When Joshua is ready to lead Israel into the “Land of Milk and Honey,” Yahweh admonishes him repeatedly, “Be strong and of good courage.” There were Anakin (giants) in the land who needed a thrashing. That might be an appropriate challenge to Jimtown’s men’s basketball squad as they prepare to attack the hoops Saturday (3.22.25) in its first appearance in the Indiana Semi-State tourney in 21 years. The Jimmies’ task will not be easy. They will carry a 16-10 record against Manchester’s Squires, who are 23-2. “We’ve been watching a lot of film,” said Jimmy Head Coach Tyler Leighton. “Manchester is an elite team with an excellent coach. They run a lot of offensive plays and different defenses. We’ll need to do some multi-tasking to beat them.” Jimtown faces Manchester here in the Wolves Den in with a noon tip-off scheduled. (That’s 1 in Baugo territory.) The winner will need to come back for a 7:30 start (8:30 Baugo) and a chance to reach the final four in Indianapolis. Much has been said and written about the unusual connection between the current Jimtown team and the 2004 edition. Leighton was a junior on that squad which won the state 2A championship and led the team in scoring. Now he’s in his second year at the helm of his old school on a dream course. “I’m proud to be able to bring this group of boys along,” Leighton said. “Jimtown is a special community, and I’m excited to help these players gain some of the same memories I’ve been carrying.” Leighton said the Jimmies have had a couple of teams in common with the Squires during the season, “but we’re concentrating more on the recent schedule.” Some scribes believe Jimtown’s strength of schedule helps even out the playing field. Six of their 10 losses came against much larger schools, such as South Bend St. Joe, SB Riley, and SB Washington. The Jimmies took Mishawaka Marian to overtime before losing, 40-38. Branden King, a 6-foot-7 senior leads Baugo in scoring with a 17.9 average, and Dylen Fey ant Javen Jackson also are in double figures. Manchester has a hot shot in Gavin Betten, who is averaging in the mid-20’s. He had a double-double in the Squires’ defeat of Tipton, 54-36, for the Regional title last week. He has scored at least 18 points in 21 straight games. Another sharp-shooter is Tallon Torpy, who hit 7-of-10 for 18 points against Tipton.