Richards Boys Basketball Standout Jovone Shorter Explodes in Second Half

Richards' coach John Chappetto preaches a team-focused mantra, but calls Jovone Shorter his "go-to guy." The senior guard showed why on Friday night.

Richards started the game with an early 14-0 run in the first quarter of a 64-47 victory over Tinley Park. In that stretch, Shorter had just one bucket. He wouldn't score for the rest of the first half, but instead had one assist and three of his four steals. 

In the third quarter, all of that defense paid offensive dividends for Shorter. He went on a stretch of scoring seven straight points for the Bulldogs, giving his team the momentum it needed to pull away for win in South Suburban Red Conference play.

"It gets to the point where you need a big basket to relieve some of that tension. Shorter hit a pull-up shot from the free-throw line, and I knew that's when we had it," Chappetto said.

"I knew we had to pull away because it was too tight at the half (28-20), and I wanted to beat (Tinley Park) badly," Shorter said. "I knew I had to score for my team. Tinley played a tough zone (defense).

"I knew they were being aggressive on me, so I had to match that."

Shorter and the rest of the Bulldogs shredded the Tinley Park zone for the rest of the night, and as a result dominated on the boards on both ends of the court. Shorter had seven of his teams's 51 rebounds.

Richards returns to action Saturday, Dec. 17, at Moraine Valley Shootout against Chicago Agricultural Science Academy. 

Shorter, a resident of Calumet Park, is undecided about his college plans. But he continues to show why many consider him one of the top players in the Southland.