MOUNT VERNON — Trent Wells and Trace Beck played the part of a dynamic duo by tallying 47 points between them as the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets took down the Watkins Memorial Warriors 67-62 on Friday night.
Wells started the game hitting three shots beyond the arc, leading the Jackets to a 16-12 first-quarter lead.
The home team went as cold as the frigid air outside of the Hive to begin the second period. Mount Vernon went 3:20 into the second eight minutes before Wells knocked down a trey.
The drought allowed the visitors to take an 18-16 lead.
In the next two and a half quarters, the lead changed hands 10 times.
Mount Vernon coach Nick Coon had one piece of advice for his team: “Do not let your emotions overcome your execution, especially against a team like Watkins.”
At the intermission, the Warriors held a slim 29-28 lead.
Like two heavyweight boxers trading punches, the two squads swapped 3-point shots until Mount Vernon forged a 47-40 third-period lead.
Back-to-back turnovers by the Jackets to begin the final stanza allowed the visitors to pull within 47-44.
With a 6:33 showing on the clock, Beck nailed a triple shot to give the Jackets a bit of breathing room and a 51-46 edge, one they would not relinquish.
With 2:10 remaining in the game, Beck executed a midcourt theft and canned a layup, never breaking stride, putting his team up 61-54. It was a backbreaking play.
“I’m proud of the way they played,” Coon said. “We are working on the whole team becoming more offensive and I think we have the potential to do that.
“We are facing some growing pains and learning to play together.”
Joining Wells (26 points) and Beck (21 points) in double figures, Justice Shaw turned in a 10-point effort.
The win pulls the Jackets to .500 at 3-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
The next game for Mount Vernon will be on Saturday, Dec. 27 when Delaware Hayes visits for a 3 p.m. tipoff.
The Warriors fell to 2-2 overall, 2-1 in the Licking County League.