Energetic Jacobs snaps losing skid
Sometimes the stat sheet can't account for what Jacobs sophomore Carly Sidor brings to the table for the Golden Eagles girls basketball team.
And after dropping two straight and 4 of their last 5 games, the Golden Eagles were in definite need of some energy to get them off the snide.
Jacobs looked fluid from the get-go in its 51-34 Fox Valley Conference crossover road win over winless Crystal Lake Central Monday, as Jessica Powell led all scorers with 13 points on three 3-pointers. But it was Sidor's 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and defense that set the tone for Jacobs (4-4), which jumped out to an 18-point halftime lead and led by as many as 21 in the fourth quarter.
"(Sidor's) a difference maker. Even when she's not scoring she brings so much to our basketball team, defensively and the attention she draws offensively, I was really proud of her effort, as always," Jacobs coach Joe Benoit said. "After our last loss the kids really committed themselves with the right mindset. I'm proud of the way they responded."
And Sidor's energy became a necessity after Powell's hot hand just 2 minutes after the tip was forced to the bench with her second foul.
"We really, really wanted this win and it was the energy we came out with that helped us," Sidor said. "I take every play at a time and go as hard as I can so I know it will pay off in the long run. When one person goes down the next person has to step up."
Enter Sidor and also enter Jennifer Barnec, who nailed a left wing 3-pointer with 4:52 left in the first to complete a 10-0 start for the Eagles. Once Powell returned, she gunned two more 3-pointers in the second quarter along with back-to-back layups from Sidor, one off a steal that made it 29-11 at intermission. Sidor had 8 points in the first half and 6 in the second, as Jacobs hit four 3-pointers in the half.
"I thought we played fairly well they just shot lights out in the first half," Tigers' coach Paul Lichtenheld said. "It wasn't a bad defense it was a good offense."
Central (0-8) leading scorer Molly Steffen (8 points) dropped 5 in the third quarter as the Tigers pulled within 11. Teaghan Richman and Barnec drained jumpers at the end the third and Barnec, who finished with 12 points, hit a deep 3 early in the fourth for a 44-25 lead. Sidor's layup and hustle play at midcourt that forced a jump ball in the fourth was indicative of the competitive juices flowing.
"Our team as a whole feeds off our energy so when one person gets going, even the ones on the bench will feel the energy on the court," Powell said. "When Carly gets going Jenni will get going and (Jess Hernandez) and everybody so it's really nice for that one person to come out with that fire and everybody just feeds off it."
Jacobs, which shot 21 of 54 from the field, totaled 11 assists and scored 13 points off 14 CL Central turnovers. The Tigers, who shot 32.5 percent, also didn't have answer for Powell as she finished with 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 5 for 12 from the field after sitting out much of the first quarter.
"She's a senior and provides leadership for us so I knew she'd come back in and play smart and she did exactly that," said Benoit. "It was good to see her get hot again, too, and seeing her teammates sharing the basketball, looking for her. They shared the ball well tonight."