Cary-Grove shoots past Jacobs

Cary-Grove presents enough problems to defend with its stars, guard Beau Frericks and 6-foot-8 forward Frank Jakubicek.

When another player gets rolling, like guard Clark Cunningham did early Wednesday against Jacobs, the Trojans look unstoppable.

Cunningham scored 10 of his 11 points in the first half, helping C-G to 68% field-goal shooting, and the Trojans rolled to a 68-44 Fox Valley Conference boys basketball victory at the Eagles' Nest. The win keeps C-G (16-2, 8-0 FVC) one game ahead of Huntley in the conference standings.

"I felt good. They were giving me gaps, so I just took it to the hole," Cunningham said. "They were denying Beau, so I took what they gave me. It really boosted my confidence making the first couple, which helped me go in more."

Cunningham had a 3-point play in the first and second quarters, along with a pair of free throws.

"Our guys know, at this point, that they're going to get opportunities with the amount of attention Beau and Frank draw," Trojans coach Adam McCloud said. "That's what makes (Frericks and Jakubicek) more special. It really elevates things for everybody else."

Jacobs (10-7, 4-4) trailed, 23-14, after the first basket of the second quarter, but Cunningham's 3-point play put C-G ahead by double digits for good.

Frericks hit 9 of 13 and scored a game-high 21 points. Jakubicek hit 8 of 10 shots and finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Weaver added 10 points.

It did not help Jacobs that starter Robert Pennel, a guard who leads the Eagles in 3-pointers, was out sick and 6-3 forward Max Stec, who usually defends opponents' tallest players, missed the game with a shoulder injury.

"You have to score, No. 1, against good teams," Golden Eagles coach Jimmy Roberts said. "We started out OK. We lost some principles on some of their guys. Cunningham got to the basket. Beau and Frank are going to get theirs, we're kind of OK with that. It's when the other guys get baskets early."

Andrew Balkcom led Jacobs with 12 points and five rebounds.

McCloud thought it had been eight years since C-G defeated the Eagles in their own gym, although the Trojans were in the last two championship games at Jacobs' Hinkle Holiday Classic.

"We're comfortable in this gym," Jakubicek said. "We wanted to take it to them. We're used to this gym and the rims and if we played our best game, we would be able to come out on top. That's what we were able to do."