Monroe basketball runs past Thomas County Central

ALBANY — Summer basketball victories don’t show up in the standings, but for Monroe head coach Michael Hoffpauir, Monday’s 66-44 win over Thomas County Central offered another encouraging sign that the Tornadoes’ next generation is beginning to find its footing.

Freshman King Leverette knocked down a corner 3-pointer, rising sophomore Armonis Jefferson controlled the paint and several younger players logged meaningful minutes as Monroe continued its summer schedule with a convincing victory over the Yellow Jackets at Monroe High School.

“We have a mixed group this year where we have a few seniors, some key rising juniors and some good freshmen,” Hoffpauir said. “My focus is getting them all some experience to grasp an understanding of the varsity level.”

The Yellow Jackets came out firing, connecting on an early 3-pointer and building a 10-6 lead before Monroe settled in.

Once the Tornadoes found their rhythm, the game changed quickly.

Monroe ripped off 20 unanswered points, turning a four-point deficit into a commanding 26-10 advantage. The defensive intensity that helped carry the Tornadoes to a Final Four appearance last season began creating transition opportunities, while Monroe’s size and athleticism overwhelmed Thomas County Central.

By halftime, Monroe had stretched the lead to 30-12.

The second half provided more opportunities for Monroe’s younger players to shine.

Leverette buried a 3-pointer from the corner before Tristen Terry followed with consecutive shots from beyond the arc as the Tornadoes expanded their advantage to 49-23. Inside, Jefferson and Robert Adams controlled the boards and protected the rim, making life difficult for the Yellow Jackets.

Thomas County Central briefly found success midway through the second half, attacking the basket for three consecutive layups to trim the deficit and force a Monroe timeout.

Any thoughts of a comeback were short-lived.

Moments later, Elijah Rivers drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to stop the run and restore a 20-point cushion. Monroe maintained control the rest of the way on its way to the 22-point victory.

While veterans such as Terry, Rivers and Adams provide a foundation, Hoffpauir said much of the summer has been devoted to accelerating the development of players who will be asked to take on larger roles next season.

“We will be counting on some young guys to play this year and they have been stepping up to the occasion,” Hoffpauir said. “King and Armonis being two contributors, and we are pushing some others such as Jaliel Knowles to step their games up.”

That’s exactly what summer basketball is designed to accomplish.

The wins are nice, but for Monroe, the bigger objective is preparing a roster that blends experienced returners with emerging young talent. If Monday’s performance was any indication, the Tornadoes are making progress toward that goal.

Monroe will continue its summer schedule later this week in Americus before closing out the week Friday at Lee County.