Watching his Spartans cruise to a 7554 win Jan. 6 over visiting Pleasant Hill, Richmond varsity boys basketball coach Kevin Jermain didn’t notice any rust from a 17-day gap between games.

Some other issues, yes. But not rust. “To be honest, I couldn’t ask for a better way to start the game. … Defensively, we were … really getting after it,” Jermain said minutes after the Missouri River Valley Conference interdivisional meeting. “We were really … toned in on what their strengths were, and … the first quarter, we were just absolutely … fantastic defensively. And offensively, we were good enough.”

But from the second quarter to midway in the fourth quarter, the Spartans were “just very inconsistent,” offensively and defensively, Jermain added.

“I don’t know if I would call it rust because we played so well in the first quarter,” he said. “Just a lack of attention to detail. … I told them …, ‘We (have) got to be better in those situations.’ But they did a good job of finally figuring out how to … put the game away.”

Richmond’s first quarter included erasing a 4-3 deficit by ripping off a 21-2 run that ended early in the second quarter. The run helped the Spartans claim a 36-24 halftime lead.

Like Jermain, senior post player Jack Gogue attributed Richmond’s ability to take control early to defense. Gogue also attributed it to the Spartans’ uptempo offense.

“We weren’t really getting into any offensive sets – just kind of going fast break and running the floor,” said Gogue, who finished with 32 points – one point shy of his career best.

The Spartans communicated well defensively and played with energy early, according to senior post player Thomas Murphy, who contributed 13 total points, as did sophomore Gabe Johnson.

“We came out ready to play,” Murphy said.

Pleasant Hill, however, threatened to erase Richmond’s cushion during the second half, getting to within nine twice – 43-34 during the third quarter and 5243 early in the fourth quarter.

“Our guys did a good job of kind of attacking, started getting to the free throw line and that was able to help us get back in the game and get us in a rhythm offensively,” Roosters coach Ryan Messinger said.

Like Jermain, Gogue, Murphy and senior guard Eli Steele agreed inconsistency hurt the Spartans the second quarter and part of the second half. It was noticeable to Steele in a few ways.

“We had a lot of stupid turnovers and … weren’t locked down on defense like we usually are,” said Steele, who finished with 12 points. “But we turned it around when the game mattered.” THIS WEEK

The Spartans followed their 21-point victory over Pleasant Hill by thumping Penney of Hamilton 74-32 Tuesday night at Lawson High School to open the 29th annual Lawson Invitational. They were slated to play Tuesday’s West Platte-Cameron winner in the winner’s bracket semifinals Thursday.