One of the first things you noticed about Izzy Jayasuriya on Saturday was her smile.
Jayasuriya and the rest of the Campbell County Camels maybe are still grinning because her 19 points led a 56-46 win over Bishop Brossart in the LINK nky Game of the Week presented by Skyline/Mr. Kentucky at Campbell County Middle School.
“She’s different, man,” Campbell County coach Davey Johnson said of Jayasuriya. “I’ve been saying it since I started coaching her in her freshman year. She’s a different player. She just does everything – she can handle the ball, she can shoot the 3, she rebounds, she can guard the post.
“She’s just an all-around unbelievable player.”
Choosing a single reason for Campbell County (6-2) to rejoice couldn’t be done because the Camels: ended Brossart’s 13-game winning streak, won its 37th District opener, won their fourth straight, got 11 points from Stella Brockman, and avenged last season’s 43-41 loss to the Lady ‘Stangs.
And having more fun doing it.
“We all hang out with each other,” Jayasuriya said. “We’re each other’s best friends … (Friday), we went to the NKU (Northern Kentucky University women’s) game together as a team. All we do is hang out with each other and support each other.”
There were at least two more grounds to celebrate Jayasuriya– her 11-for-11 from the free throw line included 8-for-8 in the fourth quarter, and the altering multiple shots in the paint.
Another reason Jayasuriya is enjoying herself is, she knows where she’s going to college next year – she committed to Thomas More University.
“It really lifts weight off my shoulders that I know where I’m going and I have my path to go,” she said.
With six sophomores and a freshman on the roster, Jayasuriya is embracing her role as a senior leader.
“Some of the girls haven’t, like, come fully out of their shell yet, but we try to push them every day to, like, shoot open shots and go to the bucket,” Jayasuriya said.
Campbell County also made 10 3-pointers Saturday – the fourth time this season the Camels have hit at least that many. (They hit 16 in a 73-37 win over Rockcastle County on Dec. 21.)
Saturday was Campbell County’s first game since Dec. 22 and the fourth after Jayasuriya missed games against Ryle (a 57-54 win on Dec. 16) and Simon Kenton (a 63-44 loss two days later) with a right knee injury.
Campbell County coach Davey Johnson’s overarching goal was to contain Brossart’s Kylie Smith by not going for ball fakes. She scored 17 points, but Johnson felt sophomore point guard Addie Davis did the best job.
“That was what I’ve been waiting on out of Addie this whole year,” Johnson said. “Addie finally had the confidence, stepped up, played the way we’ve been expecting her to play.”
Davis said preventing Smith from driving down the lane was important.
“I know if I got switched onto (Smith), I just had to pressure her,” Davis said.
A 9-4 run to open the second quarter helped the Camels to a 21-13 lead – Brockman and Amaria Mullins each scored three points – which they expanded to 43-28 going to the fourth after Josie Feebeck’s two 3s and Jayasuriya’s 25-footer.
“Well, we battled,” Brossart coach Aaron Stamm said. “I mean we played hard, and we just couldn’t get a few balls to go in at the same time. We looked like we were a little hesitant to shoot the ball.”
Campbell County heads to Dry Ridge for Tuesday’s game at Grant County, and Brossart hosts Highlands on Wednesday.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
CAMELS 56, LADY ‘STANGS 46
CAMPBELL COUNTY 12 13 18 13 – 56
BISHOP BROSSART 7 10 11 18 – 46
Campbell Co. (56) — Mullins 3, Davis 7, Augsback 8, Whitford 2, Bittner 3, Brockman 11, Jayasuriya 19, Feebeck 3. 3-Pt. FG: 10 (Brockman 2, Jayasuriya 2, Augsback 2, Mullins, Davis, Bittner, Feebeck). FT: 14-16. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.
Bishop Brossart (46) — Meyers 4, Guidugli 2, Smith 17, Hadley Eviston 11, Wietholter 6, Kramer 6. 3-Pt. FG: 4 (Smith 2, Wietholter 2. FT: 8-13. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
Records: Campbell County 6-2 (1-0 in 37th District), Bishop Brossart 13-1 (0-1).
Boys
Bishop Brossart 71, Campbell County 58 – It was exactly six years since the Mustangs last beat the Camels.
Brossart improved to 4-7 – and 1-0 in the 37th District – because of Drew Steffen, Brady Boruske, Nickolas Cozzi and Carson Hesse. Steffen’s 20 poinrs included six 3-pointers, Hesse had 15 points, Boruske had 14, and Cozzi added 10.
Austin Davie led Campbell County (9-3, 0-1 in district) with 25 points, Cade Anthrop had 12, and Braden Elam added 10. Davie and Cozzi were co-players of the game.
MUSTANGS 71, CAMELS 58
CAMPBELL COUNTY 16 15 18 9 – 58
BISHOP BROSSART 23 16 13 19–71
Campbell Co. (58) — Davie 25, Xander 2, Elam 10, L. Anthrop 9, C. Anthrop 12. 3-Pt. FG: 4 (L. Anthrop 3, Davie). FT: 12-18. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
Bishop Brossart (71) — Boruske 14, Kuntz 8, Rowe 2, J. Steffen 2, D. Steffen 20, Hesse 15, Cozzi 10. 3-Pt. FG: 11 (D. Steffen 6, Boruske 2, Kuntz 2, Hesse). FT: 10-12. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.
Records: Campbell County 9-3 (0-1 in 37th District), Bishop Brossart 4-7 (1-0).