SW Metro Boys Athlete of the Week: Mike Evens/Isaiah Watts
You can probably count on one hand the number of metro area squads with a clear, defined team identity. The Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars could be the first you think of on that list.
“Volume scoring” isn’t in their vocabulary. Halfcourt offense is the name of the game, with a flurry of colored cuts mixed in—green, blue, purple. Defensive grit and ability to slow down the pace are two top priorities.
Traditionally in the top tier of scoring defense and toward the bottom in scoring offense, Jefferson’s made a reputation through the years of winning games at a snail-like speed. You don’t see too many offensive explosions in a Jaguar box score.
Enter senior Mike Evens and junior Isaiah Watts.
The two wings provided the scoring punch in a 1-1 week for the Jags. Evens scored 20 and Watts 18 in a tough loss to St. Louis Park, but bounced back and propelled Jefferson to a 49-44 win over Benilde by pouring in 17 and 16 points respectively. The Jaguars are 9-8 on the season and sit all alone in third place of the Metro West conference, poised for a competitive run at the second half of league play. No doubt Evens and Watts will need to continue their strong performances to keep Jefferson rolling come section time. Congratulations to the pair of Jaguars on the award!