Pressuring Lions steamroll Hornets

By Ashton Ferguson Las Vegas Review-Journal

9 years ago

Beatty guard Lindzey Gross knocks the ball away from Adelson guard Mordechai Shirti (34) in ... — Beatty guard Lindzey Gross knocks the ball away from Adelson guard Mordechai Shirti (34) in the second half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adelson guard Jake Buchman scores a field goal against Beatty in the first half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adelson guard Miles Hagan scores a field goal against Beatty in the first half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Beatty guard Lindzey Gross knocks the ball away from Adelson guard Mordechai Shirti (34) in the second half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adelson guard Jake Buchman (15) is unable to catch a pass in front of Beatty guard Lindzey Gross in the first half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Beatty guard Octavio Maldonado fouls Adelson guard Brandon Pappas (33) in the first half of their prep basketball game at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adelson guard Brandon Pappas saves a pass from going out of bounds against Beatty in the first half of their prep basketball game at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adelson guard Dale Weiford goes up for a shot against Beatty in the second half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Adelson guard Matan Adelson, center, scores a field goal against Beatty guard Jake Ybarra, left, and Beatty guard Jacob Oseguera in the second half of their prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sheldon Adelson is seen in the first half of the prep basketball game against Beatty at the Adelson Education Campus in Las Vegas Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016. Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sheldon Adelson took in his first high school basketball game of the season Thursday night, sitting courtside in a gray suit and purple tie at the Adelson Educational Campus.

The casino magnate smiled, clapped and delivered high-fives outside the locker room after watching Adelson School — which he helped found in 2008 — cruise by Beatty 70-36 in a Division IV Southern League game.

Jalen Pitts and Jake Buchman scored 13 points apiece to pace Adelson School (5-5, 3-0), which got scoring contributions from 12 players, including four points from Matan Adelson, the son of Sheldon.

“This win was representative of the team attitude and our total focus,” coach Rob Blackwell said. “We need everybody on the team to help us to do something special this year. … It’s about our basketball team. It’s not about individuals. That’s the mantra for our season this year. Everybody is doing the things I ask of them.”

The Lions, who have made three consecutive playoff appearances, appear to be headed for a fourth after dismantling the overmatched Hornets (4-3, 2-1).

Adelson School used its stingy full-court pressure to create 13 turnovers in the first quarter and take a 24-11 lead. The Lions forced a total of 28 turnovers.

“We realized our defensive intensity would set the tone,” Blackwell said. “We (always) come out ready to play defense. It really makes the rest of the game come naturally to everybody. And we’ve been very successful the last few games.”

Adelson School shot 29 of 52 (55.8 percent) from the field, frequently making easy layups in transition and converting short jumpers inside the 3-point line.

Miles Hagen scored eight of his 10 points in the first quarter, and Jacob Elharrar added nine steals and five assists for the Lions, who led 37-13 at halftime and 57-19 with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

Jacob Oseguera had 15 points, all in the second half, for Beatty. Lindzey Gross scored eight for the Hornets, who were 13-for-43 (30.2 percent) from the field.

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson