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Long scores 40 points against Ethan, leading MVP boys to 2-1 startMOUNT VERNON, Dec 18, 2012 (The Daily Republic - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Jared Long said he's not a shooter. Still, that did not stop the Mount Vernon/Plankinton guard from filling up the box score in a boys' basketball game last week against Ethan. Long finished the game with a career-high 40 points and the Titans won the game 87-75. "I am not much of a shooter," Long said. "I have been pretty much a penetrate and dish kind of guy the last couple of years, but this season I am a penetrate and finish at the rim guy." While the 5-foot-7 senior did not drain a bevy trifecta in the game against Ethan, he did get to the basket and knock down short jumpers en rout to his big night. "Jared is really quick," said Mount Vernon/Plankinton head coach Eric Denning, who was not shocked at his point guard's stellar performance. "He just kept getting into the lane and kept getting shots up. I wasn't shocked; I knew he had 20 at halftime, so I just told him to keep going." For his efforts, Long has been named The Daily Republic's athlete of the week, an award that's voted on by the newspaper's sports staff. "It's pretty nice to be honored my senior year," Long said. "I have been working hard for the last four years, and it's good to be recognized in my last year." Through three games, Long is averaging 22.3 points per game and the Titans are 2-1. "Jared is very important to our team as a leader," Denning said. "He is our hardest worker, and his leadership is much more important than his scoring ability." Coming in to this season, Long knew he would have an increased role due to the departure of three seniors from last year's team. "Coach Denning told to me at the end of last season that I would have to step it up this season," Long said. "I did some work in the offseason to help me with that." ___ (c)2012 The Daily Republic (Mitchell, S.D.) Visit The Daily Republic (Mitchell, S.D.) at www.mitchellrepublic.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |