Jeffers coaches Mike Saari (gray kneeling) and Pete Anderson (green) give some instruction during a time out during a game against Bessemer Tuesday in Painesdale. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

JEFFERS — According to Jeffers Jets boys basketball coach Mike Saari, anytime his team can score more than 60 points means that it is a good night. Tuesday, the Jets had a great night as they tallied 62 points and defeated the Bessemer Speedboys by 10, 62-52.

“We played as a team,” Saari said. “Despite them (Speedboys) coming within four or five points, that is as good as it got. Last year, we would have lost this game, but we are playing much better now as a team.”

The Jets’ (7-8) leading scorer, Levi Kinnunen (31 points), prepared the Jets for takeoff by opening their first possession with a 3-pointer. It was a 10-0 lead for the boys in green before the Speedboys (7-4) got on the board at the 3:30 mark. It was 18-8 after one.

While the Speedboys won the second quarter by two, 13-11, they still trailed the Jets by eight at half, 29-21.

“I told the boys at half to keep their foot on the gas and not give up,” said Saari. “The hustle and ball movement is what got us the lead.”

In the third, the Bessemer boys opened with four quick unanswered points pulling within four points of the Jets at 29-25. However, that is as close as they got. The Jets stayed composed and pushed the lead back to eight, 44-36, with just the fourth quarter to go.

“Our best quarter was the fourth,” said Saari, “because we closed it out.”

With less than two minutes to go, the Jets led by as many as 10, 55-45, and landed the victory.

“Game ball to the team,” Saari said. “Everyone played really well.”

Landon Larson was the Jets second leading scorer with 17 points.

Jayden Verrett topped the scoring for Bessemer with 22. Teammate Cayden Harju poured in 10.

Up next

The Jets will welcome the Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Blue Bolts to Painesdale on Friday.