Wyatt Shively, pictured aiming for the basket in this file photo from February, is often the Cougars’ leading rebounder. Last season’s Cougars finished the regular season with a 22-0 record before falling to Parkersburg South in the Class AAAA state tournament in Charleston. David Pennock

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — It was just six games into the 2023-2024 boys basketball season, when Jefferson High School played Lewis County High School in the holiday tournament sponsored by Hedgesville High School.

The lone game the Cougars have played that was always in doubt, was the season opener at Frederick High School (Md.), where Jefferson saw the game go into overtime before it had a 65-62 win over the Cadets.

In its next five games — four against out-of-state competition — the Cougars stopped Pendleton County (Franklin, West Virginia) 90-50, stung Glenelg Country (Maryland), 65-52, tripped Millbrook (Virginia) 75-63, ran away from James Wood (Winchester) 82-43 and dropped North County (Glen Burnie, Maryland) 76-50.

Figuring in last season, it was Jefferson’s 29th win in its last 30 games.

Last season’s Cougars finished the regular season with a 22-0 record before falling to Parkersburg South in the Class AAAA state tournament in Charleston.

In its first six games of the current season, the Cougars are averaging over 75 points per game in the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule.

Jamari Jenkins, a senior point guard, was a consistent scorer and quick-handed defender from last year’s team and has been able to begin his final year parlaying those same skills into more Jefferson wins.

Another senior, Wyatt Shively, has done much the same as Jenkins, except he is about 6-foot-3. Shively is often the team’s leading rebounder.

Senior guard Kylan Johnson, senior guard Jaiden Gladney and junior guard Demarius Wallace are the kind of players the Cougars have winning with for the past two seasons — quick, able defenders in games that become spread out by fast breaks, all-court defenses and players who can take advantage of the three-point line.

The other seniors on this year’s roster are Quinton Goins, Adonis Troxell, Caleb Conner, Jared Wilberger, Ty Vickers and Naquan Greene. The other juniors are Tay’Shaun Roper, Roman Bartosevich and Vae Gidney, The only sophomore is Takiem Drake.

For the second consecutive season, the Cougars have been placed in the same Class AAAA Sectional with Washington and Musselman. In the other Class AAAA Sectional in Region II are Hedgesville, Martinsburg and Spring Mills.

Two teams will qualify from Region II for the Class AAAA state tournament in Charleston.

Jefferson wins its games with its open court style, where it can use its quickness, depth and twin abilities of putting pressure on its opponents on both ends of the floor.

Steals, turnovers caused by its tenacity and a general theme of quick movement from offense to defense have all played well for the Cougars.