Jacobs connects with victory over Maine West
It got a little crazy at the end between the Jacobs and Maine West boys basketball teams.
In their season openers Monday night at Palatine's Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic, the two veteran-oriented teams traded blows like lightning-quick boxers, especially down the stretch.
Jacobs, having recovered from an 8-point deficit in the first half, landed a few more blows and stayed steadier in the final moments, holding on to record a 67-63 victory in the "Pool B" round-robin section. Jacobs faces Rolling Meadows on Tuesday, while Maine West plays Wednesday against York.
Jacobs got 4 free throws down the stretch from center and high-scorer Ryan Phillips (18 points), with 1:52 and 1:25 left, respectively. Also delivering were, with one each, Daniel Murray with 40 seconds left, from Ajani Rodriguez (16 points) with 30 seconds left and finally from Nicolas Balkcom (11 points) with 8 seconds left. Those seven combined Golden Eagles free throws in the final two minutes came amidst Warriors guards Julian Dones (15 points) and Darrington Bates both using their quickness to keep attacking the basket and keep things close.
"They've (Maine West) got a lot of seniors, a lot of experience and they took it to us," in the first half, Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts noted. "It took us a half or so to get into it."
Maine West coach Tom Prokopij confirmed that, noting, "We forced them into 10 turnovers," in the first half in forging the lead. The turnovers proved positive for the Warriors as, "We were getting good looks," and knocking them down.
That was before things changed decisively.
"They went on a run in the second half," he added.
Did they ever. The Golden Eagles seized control as Kameron Mack (11 points) fed Jason Henderson for a hoop, Balkcom drove in transition for a dagger-like 3-point play with 2:49 left and Rodriguez had a putback for a 4-point lead before Phillips, Murray, Rodriguez again and Balkcom again added the clinching free throws.
For Jacobs, after last year's clamp-down, defensive-minded season, the outcome was welcome but they style of play was a switch.
"We never gave up 60 points," said Roberts, who oversaw a 30-win season with 6-foot-9 Cameron Krutwig commanding the space around the basket. "We're probably not the same team we were a year ago."
Still, Roberts likes the experience he does have on the roster this season.
"They were confident they were going to win," he said. "They were scrapping in the second half - not so much in the first half."
Maine West's Prokopij likes his experienced bunch, too, but knows they need to maintain their focus.
"I knew were going to get off track at times," he said, crediting Jacobs' trademark tenacious defense.
But in addition to his quick guards, Milos Dugalic (15 points), Matt Kentgen and Ely Grimmer held their own up front against Jacobs' big guys Phillips and Mack.