Dixon plods a winning course against Grant
The hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season tends to make everything feel rushed and fast this time of year.
Saturday's Jacobs Hinkle Holiday Classic tournament game between Grant and Dixon might be one of the few exceptions.
It was slow, slow, slow going leading up to Dixon eventually pulling out a 37-35 victory over Grant.
Grant was outscored 9-2 in the fourth quarter.
"We're more of a defensive team," said Dixon junior forward Oscar Van Sickle, who finished with a team-high 12 points. "We don't score a lot of points. We like to play games in the 30s and 40s."
Dixon went to its bread and butter, defense, in the fourth quarter. The Dukes shut down Grant and allowed just one field goal, a mid-range jumper by Henry Kusiak.
Meanwhile, Talbir Chima hit a 3-pointer and Beau Bailey came through with a couple of free throws as Dixon went on a 6-0 run to take a 37-35 lead.
"We had a lot of turnovers and we couldn't really make anything in the fourth quarter," said Grant junior guard Matt McGraw, who scored a team-high 11 points. "That's how they got back in the game.
"We'd rather score more points and get out in transition. They slowed us down pretty well and I think that's how they gained some momentum."
Turnovers have been a problem this season for Grant, a young team with four first-year varsity juniors in the starting lineup.
The Bulldogs had 18 turnovers against Dixon after 20-plus turnovers in a win over Streamwood on Friday night.
Even though Dixon forced a slow-down game, the turnover problem has Grant coach Wayne Bosworth wondering if a slow-down game is better for his young players at this point.
"We couldn't make a basket and we gave them so many extra possessions with our turnovers," Bosworth said. "We're athletic, we want to run. But if you've watched any of our games lately, you'll see that when we get out in transition, we just give it right back to them. We force teams into turnovers all the time. We forced Streamwood into 21 turnovers. Lakes and Antioch (earlier in December), we forced into a bunch of turnovers. But at least 50 to 60 percent of the turnovers we force, we throw it right back to them.
"We should be running with our group. But the way we turn the ball over, we'd be better off walking the ball up the court and winning games in the 30s because we just turn it over when we try to go. It's ridiculous."
Grant drops to 3-6 on the season following an 0-5 start.
Dixon improves to 6-5 and is excited to be playing higher-level teams from the Chicago area. Dixon is located about 45 minutes southwest of Rockford and about 90 minutes from Jacobs.
"We don't know any of these teams," Dixon coach Nick Oraham said. "I love it. It's just going to make us better in the future. That's what our goal is. We want to win a regional and we're hoping this will help us get there."
Rockford Jefferson 71, Lakes 48: After a 17-17 first-quarter tie, Rockford Jefferson turned on the jets and built up a 15-point halftime lead en route to the victory at the Jacobs Hinkle Holiday Classic.
Jefferson out-scored Lakes 17-2 in the second quarter and 22-13 in the third quarter.
Four players scored in double-figures for Rockford Jefferson.
Senior guard Quillin Dixon led the way for the J-Hawks with 19 points on five 3-pointers. Teammate Terry Ford added 17 points on three 3-pointers while Jy-aire Robinson and MyQuion Garrett finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.
No one for Lakes scored in double-figures but six players scored between 6 and 9 points. Ethan Greenfield led the way for the Eagles with 9 points, Logan McCann had 8 points and Brad Cherry, Michael Behrendt and Wade Parmly each scored 7 points. Leighsean Triplett had 6 points.