Jacobs dumps Hersey
After two seasons of injuries that forced him off the court, Jacobs' Max Stec was happy to be back on the basketball court.
It's great to be out here," said Stec, who missed most of his freshman year with a fractured vertebra and his sophomore season with a broken collarbone.
"I don't mind so many games during Thanksgiving. I just want to play. I felt like I had a lot of opportunities out there tonight and my teammates found me with the ball."
Stec scored 12 points to help Jacobs pull away from Hersey 52-43 in the final round of the Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic at Palatine Saturday.
"We talked about this being an energy game," Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts said. "It is like the NBA and the third game in four nights, Whoever had the energy will win. I didn't think we had the energy in the first half. I think in the second half, starting at the top, starting from the top, everyone was better."
There were 13 lead changes and two ties as the teams were knotted up at 25-all at the half.
Jacobs got off to a quick start to open the third quarter. With Stec leading the way, the Golden Eagles scored 6 unanswered points to surge ahead 31-25.
Hersey answered with a pair of free throws from Ben Randall and a basket by Scott Rogowski to close to 31-29. Jacobs then went on an 8-0 run to open up a 39-29 lead with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.
Hersey would pull to 43-39 on a basket by Brett Wolff with 3:25 to play. Free throws by Robert Pennel and a basket by Zach Leahy gave the Eagles the cushion they needed.
"I think we defended well in the tournament," Roberts said. "We know we can play a lot better offensively, but I think everyone here is thinking that. If someone said at the start of this week that we would get out from here 3-1, knowing we play Stevenson in game two, we would be in good shape getting out of here."
Pennel and Jaden Henderson each had 10 points for Jacobs. James Hayes had 7 points and Andrew Balkcom chipped in 6 points.
Ethan Roberts led Hersey with 14 points. Ryan Gudaitis had 8 points while Randall and Brent Wolff each had 7 points.
"Right now we area a quarter away from being good," Hersey coach Austin Scott said. "We are a quarter away from beating York, a quarter away from beating Cary-Grove and a quarter away from beating Jacobs. They don't give you any credit in the left hand column for being a quarter away."
Scott said the tournament was good for his Huskies.
"We have some things to work on," Scott said. "I thought we got exposed a little bit in this tournament. Some teams go places to get wins, I am more concerned in getting better."
Cary-Grove 52, Palatine 42: Cary-Grove (3-1) was able to pull away in the second half behind Beau Frericks' 24 points and Frank Jakubicek's 14 points. Julian Campbell led Palatine (1-3) with 20 points.
Stevenson 52, York 43: Stevenson (4-0) won the tournament title behind tournament MVP Robert Holmes' 12 points. The Patriots, who converted eight 3-pointers, got 11 points from Matt Kaznikov and 10 points from Matt Ambrose. York (3-1) was led by Nate Shockey, who scored 14 points.
Maine West 62, Elk Grove 51: Danny Kentgen and Jared Pearson each had 15 points to lead Maine West (1-3). Elk Grove (0-4) was led by Devin McKinney, who had 15 points.