Jacobs edges Dundee-Crown in overtime
Redemption ended up being sweet for Jacobs junior Andrew Balkcom.
Balkcom, who missed 3 free throws late in the fourth quarter, scored 7 of Jacobs' 9 points in overtime as the Golden Eagles edged District 300 rival Dundee-Crown 43-41 in a Fox Valley Conference tilt in Carpentersville Friday night.
"Coach (Jim) Roberts built up my confidence and kept telling me I would come up big in the overtime," said Balkcom. "I knew my teammates had my back. It was nice to have a chance to win the game in overtime. D-C was covering our 3-point shooters so I had an open lane to the basket. We have lost so many close games late. This was sweet especially against our rivals."
Coach Roberts praised Balkcom for his toughness.
"He could have easily hung his head in the overtime but he went out and helped us win the game," said Roberts. "He is a tremendous athlete with a lot of skills."
In the extra session with Jacobs leading 41-38, Dundee-Crown's Jordan Hairston canned a driving layup and was fouled on the play. The D-C senior made the free throw with 28 seconds left to tie the game at 41.
Jacobs set up the last play for the win. Balkcom drove to the left side of the lane and banked in the layup for the game-winner with 2.1 seconds left.
"We have had a lot of tough, close losses," said Roberts. "We demand a lot of these kids and they work extremely hard. They showed a lot of toughness tonight."
Jacobs (11-16, 6-8) seemed in good shape to win the game in regulation time.
The Golden Eagles held a 34-29 lead after a putback by Jaden Henderson with 50 ticks left.
The Chargers (17-8, 8-6) didn't quit. Kyle Huber, who was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer, connected on all 3 free throws with 36.6 seconds left to pull the Chargers within 34-32.
After a missed Jacobs free throw, D-C's Brad Stec hit a 5-footer in the lane at the buzzer to tie the game at 34.
"I like the way our kids kept fighting and battling and we got the game into overtime," said Dundee-Crown coach Lance Huber. "Jacobs made one more shot and got the win."
Henderson and sophomore reserve Zach Leahy led the Eagles with 10 each. Jalen Ramsey buried 3 treys for 9 points.
"This was a great win for us," said Ramsey. "We have had so many tough losses. Everybody stepped up and we executed when we needed to."
Hairston led the Chargers with 9 points while Huber and Stec (11 rebounds) tallied 8 each.