Jase Becker goes on attack for Granville boys basketball
GRANVILLE — The Granville boys basketball team has not yet been completely whole, but piece-by-piece, the Blue Aces are figuring out what works.
With senior Rex Rader sidelined by an injury Thursday and junior Dante Varrasso still getting his legs back after a standout football season, junior Jase Becker again took a lead role. He scored 27 points for Granville in a 53-48 loss to visiting Centerburg.
“We are stepping up, knowing we are going to have to make plays,” said Becker, who built on a 21-point performance in Tuesday’s victory against Horizon Science. “Rex does so much for the team and Dante when healthy, people just need to step up. I took that role tonight.”
Seniors Alex Engle added 20 points in Tuesday’s victory, and Dylan Niedermeyer has been a consistent scorer in the backcourt for the Blue Aces. Becker, however, has taken his game to the next level as 2022 comes to a close.
Becker had a 10-point second quarter Thursday, twice taking the ball from end to end, seeing a crease in the defense and scoring through contact the rim. The second tied the game at 23, and seconds later, Varrasso grabbed a rebound and threaded a bounce pass to a streaking Niedermeyer for the go-ahead layup just before the halftime buzzer.
“I like getting to the basket. I have always been someone that likes to attack,” Becker said. “I don’t make the right play sometimes, but creating looks for other people and pushing the ball is something I can do.”
Centerburg (6-2) immediately regained the momentum, scoring 15 points in the third quarter and leading 38-33 going to the fourth. Becker again led Granville (3-5) back.
Becker’s 3-pointer cut the deficit to 42-41 with less than three minutes left in the game. Varrasso then grabbed a steal, and the ensuing layup gave the Blue Aces a brief lead with 2:20 left before senior Carter Morganstern’s 3 at the other end and a rebounding foul gave Centerburg a five-point possession and the lead for good.
“It’s hard to put the pressure on one play right at the end,” Granville coach Chris Powell said. “Are there things we could do better in the third quarter to get a run going? Are there things we can do to start off the second quarter? We look at the different spurts in the game and the overall picture as opposed to one missed shot or one missed play. Those are the ones you remember, but we are trying to be a team that executes 32 minutes.”
Niedermeyer scored twice, and two Centerburg turnovers gave Granville two late opportunities. A missed free throw, however, left the Blue Aces a point behind, and after the Trojans made two, a desperation 3-point attempt in the final seconds went off the rim.
Becker’s 27 points, which included Granville’s only two 3s, gave him a fourth consecutive double-digit scoring game. Niedermeyer added eight points.
“Jase is a great kid. He might be one of the most positive kids that we have,” Powell said. “He just works every day. He does whatever we need him to do. We are on him a lot. We are trying to make him a great player. We are trying to get him to do the little things more, and he is just so receptive to coaching. He comes in and busts it every day. This is a culmination of those things.”
Senior Colton Martin led Centerburg’s balanced attack with 15 points. Sophomore Trevin Harris added 11 points and junior Grayson Reynolds and sophomore Isaiah Sule 10 apiece.
The schedule gets no easier for Granville, which had hoped to reach .500 to erase an 0-4 start, as the Blue Aces visit Buckeye Valley next Thursday and Bloom-Carroll on Dec. 31. The Blue Aces’ five losses have come to opponents with a combined 25-11 record.
“We have six varsity letterwinners from last year, and we intentionally scheduled up,” Powell said. “We said we want to grow as a program and play really good teams. We put a lot on the shoulders of these guys. It’s not about December per se. It’s about January, February and hopefully further.”
740-973-4541
Twitter: @newark_sports
Read More: Jase Becker goes on attack for Granville boys basketball