Jacobs finds the energy for another win
Playing its fifth game in four days, the Jacobs boys basketball team didn’t know if fatigue would be a factor.
It wasn’t.
Fueled by adrenaline, a 24-point effort by Chris Orange and a great defensive effort by Ben Murray, the Golden Eagles mustered enough energy to produce a 47-43 victory over Cary-Grove in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division action in Algonquin Tuesday night, the Eagles’ third straight win, all coming in the span of just over 24 hours.
“We knew looking at the schedule that this would a grind,” said Jacobs coach Jim Roberts. “We were hoping for a 3-2 record during the five-game stretch and I am happy we were able to do that. The kids stayed disciplined and pushed through.”
Orange, who scored all 10 of the Golden Eagles’ (9-9, 3-1) points in the fourth quarter, was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line during the final 8 minutes.
For the game, the Jacobs junior guard made 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.
“I was a little tired but I knew I had to just concentrate at the free throw line,” said Orange. “We just had to grind this out.”
Murray, who didn’t score a point. shadowed Cary-Grove standout Jason Gregoire all night.
Gregoire, who averages nearly 20 points, was held to 9, 6 in the fourth quarter.
“’My job was to deny him the ball and stay in front of him,” said Murray. “I had to guard him wherever he was on the court. I was tired but you go on adrenaline.”
Roberts praised Murray’s defensive effort.
“Jason is a great scorer and Ben was all over him,” said Roberts. “Ben didn’t care he didn’t score a point. He dug deep and made sure Gregoire didn’t have a lot of good looks.”
Jacobs, which led 29-17 at halftime, extended the lead early in the third quarter to 15, 32-17, on a 3-pointer by Orange.
Even though Gregoire missed a lot of time because of foul trouble, the Trojans (10-8. 3-2) battled back to within 2, 43-41, with 1:06 left on a 15-footer by Michael Coleman.
But Orange made 4 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the win for the Golden Eagles.
‘We got in foul trouble and had way too many silly fouls,” said Cary-Grove coach Ralph Schuetzle. “We changed offenses in the second half and played with more energy.’
Cory Boeckh backed Orange with 11 points for Jacobs. Coleman and Tyler Szydlo each added 9 points for the Trojans.