Crystal Lake Central turns away Jacobs
The Jacobs boys basketball team made its run early in the fourth quarter Friday night.
The Golden Eagles just didn’t have enough to get over the top and past Crystal Lake Central.
Jacobs got within 55-50 with 4:28 remaining but failed to score over the next three minutes as the Tigers went on to a 65-58 victory in the Class 4A Jacobs regional final.
“I thought we had it when we came within 5,” said senior Will Schwerdtmann, who led the Golden Eagles with 14 points. “I thought we were just going to keep it going.”
CL Central (26-3), which plays Rockford Jefferson Tuesday in the DeKalb sectional, led 55-43 after Brad Knoeppel hit a pair of free throws 10 seconds into the fourth quarter. Schwerdtmann started an 8-0 run with an offensive rebound and putback. He missed the free throw trying for a 3-point play. Chrishawn Orange hit 2 free throws, Ryan Billings added an offensive putback and Patrick Nejra hit a jumper in the paint — all in a 30-second span — to get Jacobs (18-15) within 5 with 4:28 remaining.
“Obviously that team is going to make a run with all the emotion they had and the number of seniors (12) they have and (Jim) Hinkle’s last game at home,” Tigers coach Rich Czeslawski said of Jacobs. “There was no lead I felt was safe.”
The Golden Eagles missed their next four shots and saw the deficit get back up to 10, 60-50. They didn’t score again until Orange hit 2 free throws with 1:20 remaining.
“We gave it our best shot,” said Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle, who is retiring after 17 seasons with the Golden Eagles. “Central did a great job on the offensive boards. I think their dominating there was the difference in the game.”
CL Central never trailed. The Tigers scored the first 6 points and led 17-10 after the first quarter. The Golden Eagles were just 2-of-10 from the floor and missed their first three free-throw attempts in the quarter.
Jacobs cut the deficit to three, 17-14, early in the second quarter. The Tigers answered with a 5-0 run. The Golden Eagles wouldn’t get any closer than six until their run in the fourth quarter.
Orange finished with 12 points for Jacobs, which was outrebounded 34-23.
The Tigers had four players score in double figures. Kyle Fleck had 14 points and five rebounds. Jake VanScoyoe had 13 points, all in the first half, and six rebounds. David Panicko finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. DJ Thomas added 10 points off the bench.