LCA’s Calvin Prinsen looks for help while being defended by Augie Farwig of Jimtown Tuesday night in Elkhart. Prinsen led the Cougars with six points in a 43-18 loss to the Jimmies.

ELKHART – Some nights the ball simply will not go in the basket.

The Lakeland Christian Academy boys basketball team had one of those nights Tuesday evening at Jimtown.

The defensive-minded Jimmies put the clamps on the Cougars to post a 43-18 hoops victory.

Senior Michael Hobbs scored a game-high 14 points as Jimtown used its trademark work on the defensive end of the court to make new coach Ron Dietz’ debut a successful one.

LCA, which drops to 1-1, shot just 17 percent from the field in the loss. The Cougars, who managed just five field goals in the contest, also had 22 turnovers. LCA finished 5-of-29 from the field and were also just 7-of-14 from the free throw line.

“We were our own worst enemy tonight,” said third-year LCA coach Lee Compson. “We missed a lot of open shots. We missed layups, shots in transition, free throws. You name it we missed it tonight. You’re not going to beat anyone shooting 17 percent.

“Jimtown made it tough. They are a good, hard-working defensive team. I thought our defense was pretty good. I think it can be a calling card for us this season.  The turnovers really hurt us too tonight.”

Jimtown, which lost its top three scorers from last year’s 4-17 team, used a 7-0 run in the opening period to lead 11-2 after the first quarter. Hobbs, a 6-4 force in the post, muscled inside for six points and senior Mason Brown hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first stanza for the Jimmies. Hobbs is Jimtown’s top returning scorer from a year ago when he averaged 3.3 points-per-game.

Zarek Finley of LCA looks for a teammate during action at Jimtown Tuesday night. The Jimmies defeated the Cougars 43-18.

The Jimmies, who defeated LCA 58-35 last year, led 18-6 at intermission. Calvin Prinsen had both first-half baskets for the Cougars and Zarek Finley added a pair of free throws.  Jimtown stretched its lead to 29-11 after the third period.

Hobbs, one of five seniors, left the game with 4:41 to play after suffering what appeared to be a lower leg injury of some type. The Jimmies are already without senior point guard Alec Brown, who is expected to be out for 3-4 weeks after suffering an ankle injury last week.

LCA, which posted a 2-19 mark last season, had opened its season with a thrilling 50-47 win at home over Caston last Tuesday.  Billy Pitts hit a 30-footer at the final buzzer to give the Cougars the win.

“We shot 53 percent against Caston and that was one of our highest shooting percentages in a long time,” noted Compson. “Our practices in the last week since that win were inconsistent and I knew it would show up tonight. We have to go back and practice with more purpose, effort and focus.”

Junior Chase Hoeflinger scored 11 points for Jimtown, including hitting eight free throws. Brown finished with nine points and Nick Floyd six. Hobbs had nine rebounds and Hoeflinger also had five rebounds, five assists and four steals for the winners.

Dietz, whose 17-year coaching career includes stints as the head coach at Mishawaka Marian, Concord and Fort Wayne Dwenger, has returned to the bench to guide a Jimtown program that has struggled lately with losing seasons in three of the last four years. The Jimmies won a state championship in 2004.

Prinsen, a 6-7 senior, led the Cougars with six points to go with nine rebounds. Senior Finley scored five, senior Collin Price four, senior Chris Maron two and junior Chris Silveus one.

Jimtown won the junior varsity contest by a 53-15 final. Charles Pates scored 14 points, Blane Bender 11 and Kane Templeton 10 for the Jimmies. Conner Blum led LCA with seven points.

LCA (1-1) hosts Hamilton Saturday night. Jimtown (1-0) plays at Clinton Christian Friday night.

LCA’s Collin Price works the ball up court versus Jimtown Tuesday night.