It unfolded several times during last week’s Region D, Division 2 boys basketball tournament. Lebanon High School point guard Andrew Jessee would throw a crisp pass to post
player Jerome Cobb, who would convert the feed into a score for the Pioneers.
It’s also a scene that Lebanon fans have been watching for a while.
“Jerome’s been used to Andrew throwing him the ball since August,” said Lebanon coach Thad Lambert.
Jessee and Cobb formed one of the area’s best quarterback-wide receiver combinations during football season and have continued to form a nice connection on the court this winter. It’s part of the reason why Lebanon claimed the regional title and advanced to the state tournament.
The Pioneers (19-5) will play Radford (17-6) tonight at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the VHSL Group A, Division 2 state tournament at Virginia High’s Bearcat Den.
Lebanon entered the preseason with lofty expectations. The Pioneers battled injuries and were unable to win the Clinch Mountain District title, but did deliver in last week’s Region D tourney.
“This was a big accomplishment for us,” Cobb said. “We were looking forward to this at the beginning of the season and we’ve worked hard.”
One of the Southwest Virginia’s best athletes, Cobb scored the 1,000th point of his prep career in the win over Honaker in the regional finals.
“Jerome is just one of those unreal guys,” Jessee said. “He can do everything. He can jump, catch and score at will. He’s just a force inside.”
Cobb is averaging nearly 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks per game. According to Lambert, Cobb’s value isn’t tied entirely to his point total.
“A lot of people look at being a good player as you have to score 20 or more points a game,” Lambert said. “That’s not the case with Jerome. He’s really athletic and he does good things on both ends of the floor. He’s a guy that protects the bucket for us and makes it hard for other teams.”
Cobb, Jessee and the rest of the Pioneers face a tough task in Radford, the defending state champs. Radford actually eliminated Lebanon from the state football playoffs.
Radford quarterback Dontae Carter plays guard for the Bobcats, much like his fellow signal caller.
“It’s been a good senior year,” Jessee said. “I’ve tried to be the leader in both sports. … But I’m not going to be satisfied. I want to get to the state championship game.”
Jessee knows one thing for certain today. He can count on Cobb catching his passes.
“We’ve always had a good connection with one another,” Cobb said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement