Schwarts helps Jacobs shoot past Rolling Meadows
Cooper Schwarts might be the missing piece at shooting guard for the Jacobs boys basketball team.
After an 8-0 run by Rolling Meadows cut the Golden Eagles' lead to 20-17 with 4:07 left in the second quarter, Schwarts caught fire.
The 6-foot senior hit back-to-back 3s, and Ajani Rodriguez scored his only basket to cap an 8-0 run to give Jacobs a 28-17 with 1:44 left in the quarter. Schwarts followed with another 3 to make it 31-18 to finish the first half.
"When I hit that first three, things started to loosen up for me and I think it affected the whole team," said Schwarts. "Everyone started playing better and we opened up the lead again."
After three quarters, the Golden Eagles had widened the lead to 43-27.
Jacobs went on to a decisive 55-37 win over the Mustangs in season-opening play at the Ed Molitor Thanksgiving tournament in Palatine.
"Teams will try to double down on Cameron (Krutwig), and (Ryan) Phillips," said Schwarts. "When teams do that we just have to kick the ball back outside for some good open shots."
Schwarts, Phillips and the Loyola-bound Krutwig each scored 16 points. Krutwig added 15 rebounds and Schwarts dished out 5 assists. Phiilps added 6 rebounds and the Golden Eagles out-rebounded Rolling Meadows (0-1) 28-13.
"We didn't rebound well and they took advantage with their size," said Mustangs coach Kevin Katovich. "Some of our players haven't seen much floor time due to football, but tonight it was important for everyone to get some floor time."
Gio Carrillo and Liam Brigham each had 7 points for the Mustangs.
"We have set a lot of goals as a team," said Schwarts. "We would really like to accomplish them."
"Cooper hit some really nice shots for us tonight," said Jack Denny, serving as interim coach while Jimmy Roberts served a one-game suspension. "We have some nice experience on this team and despite some second-quarter turnovers the kids were able to right the ship once they closed the gap. This team showed tonight that we have several very good options that we can go to."
Krutwig liked what he saw from his teammates.
"When Cooper started hitting those shots from the outside that helped open up the middle for me," said Krutwig. "This year we want to show steady progress on a upward incline. I've lost some weight over the summer and I think it has helped my movement. I don't think I'll have big numbers this season, but that's because we have so many players that can score different ways."
Jacobs will resume pool play Wednesday when it faces Maine West at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Mustangs will face the host Pirates in the subsequent game at 6 p.m.