Jefferson High School junior Jaiden Gladney brings the ball up court against Martinsburg High School’s pressure on Jan. 3. David Pennock

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — The tempo and open-court nature of the Jefferson versus St. Maria Goretti boys basketball game was comfortable for both the Cougars and the game-hardened Gaels.

St. Maria Goretti High School improved its impressive overall record to 14-2, with an overwhelming rebounding advantage and being able to keep its turnovers against Jefferson’s constant pressuring defense to a minimum.

Jefferson High School was left with a 4-3 overall record, in the aftermath of its 64-56 loss to the visiting Gaels.

The full-court zone press of the Cougars had the whole floor spread with players. And Jefferson did exact a few turnovers from the never-panicked Gaels, though never enough to get any real control of the game.

Goretti led throughout.

Jefferson High School junior Ty Vickers goes up for a layup in the Cougars’ winning home game against the Bulldogs on Jan. 3. David Pennock

Once it established a 28-18 lead in the second quarter, Goretti refused to be caught. Shrinking leads became commonplace, but the Gaels were never overtaken.

Of Jefferson’s 56 points, Jamari Jenkins totaled 32 of those points, making 11-of-22 shot attempts, but not to be overshadowed were the 20 points from the Gaels’ Caleb Embeya, which were abetted by the additional 15 points from Najeh Allen.

Goretti’s attention to detail was only interrupted by the occasional Jefferson steal and Jenkins’ three-point accuracy.

Jefferson’s greatest inroads into the Goretti lead came when it trailed only 42-39 and 47-44.

It was a rare moment when the Gaels ever ceded an offensive rebound to the ever-chasing Cougars.

Jefferson High School junior Will Shivley pulls down a rebound in the first half of Jefferson’s win over Martinsburg on Jan. 3. David Pennock

The mostly off-target Cougars went 20-for-55 from field and only attempted 12 free throws, making nine of them. From three-point range, Jefferson was only 7-for-28 and couldn’t bridge any of the gaps between themselves and Goretti with their seven steals or 18 rebounds.

Jenkins received help from Jaiden Gladney’s 14 points, but Will Shively was 2-for-12 from the field and eventually fouled out.

Jefferson got back into its Eastern Panhandle schedule just Tuesday when it played Musselman and again tonight when it sees county rival Washington on the road.

Earlier, the Cougars outran Martinsburg, 89-75, with a withering second half where they scored 50 points against the sagging Bulldogs. Jefferson’s full-court pressure completely opened the court for one-on-one scores or Jefferson layups after making steals from the constantly harassed Bulldogs.

Martinsburg led by eight after one quarter and still was ahead at 40-39 by halftime. But then Jefferson outscored the Bulldogs, 50-33, in the second half to draw away.

Jefferson has been able to establish the fast-paced, open court it has wanted for the most part this season. But Goretti couldn’t be successfully pressed . . . and the Cougars didn’t do much rebounding to successfully jolt the Gaels’ confidence.