Bryson Fleming (23) lays up a shot against Hedgesville High School, during Friday night’s home game at Jefferson High School. David Pennock

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — A turnover-producing pressure defense, balanced scoring, an interchangeable six-man player rotation and mostly effective long-range shooting have been four ingredients in Jefferson’s jet-assisted start to the 2021-2022 boys basketball season.

The latest teams to see Jefferson’s sometimes withering full court pressure and consistent three-point shooting have been Combine Academy, a private school from Lincolnton, N.C., and Musselman.

Jefferson chased Combine into submission, 112-85, in the St. James (Md.) Invitational Tournament just last Thursday, as part of the eight-team event. A late entry into the three-day event, Jefferson took the place of one of the four teams from the original field that withdrew, and played only one night because of an already existing schedule conflict.

Combine entered the St. James event with a 12-4 record, but proved no match for the unbeaten Cougars.

Will Shively (27 points), Jaiden Gladney (26 points), Cameron Johnson (21 points), Daion Taylor (14 points) and Jamari Jenkins (nine points) were Jefferson’s leading scorers as the Cougars moved to 11-0.

Jaiden Gladney (0) shoots a open three in front of the Hedgesville bench on Friday night. David Pennock

Literally pressing the Goats into numerous floor errors and turnovers that led to a fast-paced tempo, the Cougars immediately set the tone in the high-scoring game.

Ever since Jefferson started playing boys basketball in the 1972-73 season, this was the highest scoring game in school history when combining the point totals of the two teams. A Jefferson team once scored 119 points and another Cougar squad from yesteryear had a 117-point game.

Taylor was the team leader in steals against the beleaguered Goats.

Jefferson then had a makeup of a postponed game against Musselman in Shenandoah Junction the next night (Feb. 4).

In an overtime game, Jefferson finally prevailed, 75-69, to deal visiting Musselman its sixth loss in 12 games.

Jamari Jenkins (10) puts up a shot, while a Hedgesville guard looks on in Friday night’s game. David Pennock

Taylor had five steals as the Cougars again exacted turnovers with their protracted zone pressure defense. Bryson Fleming added his useful quickness and effective defense to an already potent defensive mixture that often caused backcourt Musselman turnovers. Johnson tallied 23 points, Jenkins added 17 more, Shively totaled 13 points, Gladney scored 11 points and Taylor hurt the Applemen with his 10 points.

The Cougars also pestered the Applemen with an array of three-pointers, especially from Taylor, Will Shively, Johnson and Jenkins.

With a large crowd on hand, Jefferson continually used its transition offense sparked by long rebounds or open-court steals to eventually wear down the game Applemen.

This week could be a grueling one for the state’s second-ranked Class AAAA team because it had four games in five nights planned. The unblemished Cougars were to face Spring Mills on Tuesday, then travel to Romney the next night to play Hampshire County, take Thursday off, and then return to see county opponent Washington tonight and finish the long week traveling to see Greenbrier East on Saturday.

Will Shively (20) finishes a drive with an athletic move in Friday night’s game. David Pennock