Jacobs plenty motivated vs. C-G tonight
Playing angry is one thing.
Playing scared is another.
But its a downright combustible combination when a talented boys basketball team like Jacobs (25-2) is motivated by anger and fear simultaneously.
That was the case Tuesday, when Jacobs pulled away from Class 4A regional host Crystal Lake South for a 48-35 victory after falling behind 14-7.
Motivated by the fear of repeating last year's failure to win a regional title after going 26-1, the Golden Eagles played like cornered animals from that point forward.
Senior Zack Peterson pumped his fist and let out a yell after he sank a 3-pointer that beat the halftime buzzer and gave his team a 21-16 lead.
Injured floor leader John Moran hit a 3-pointer to beat the third-quarter buzzer, then turned to the Jacobs crowd and let out a war cry, flexing both arms and pumping both fists as if to say, "No way are we going to let it happen again!".
Moran later zinged a pass to center Conrad Krutwig on a baseline cut, and Krutwig slammed the ball home two-handed. Moran pumped his fist again. Krutwig pumped his fists. There was enough fist-pumping going on Tuesday to rival the day Tiger Woods won his first Masters.
It was more emotion than Jacobs usually displays outwardly, but it was merely a prelude to the feelings tonight's regional title game could invoke.
The Golden Eagles have waited 364 days to get another crack at the regional plaque that eluded them as the top seed at Dundee-Crown on March 2. That chance comes against rival Cary-Grove (18-10) at Gator Alley at 7:30 p.m.
By Jacobs' own admission, nothing short of reaching state in 2008 will suffice. That motto is emblazoned on the team's official T-shirt, if not its psyche.
To take the next step up that ladder, to reach the sectional that will be played in its own gym, Jacobs must beat a Cary Grove team it has already defeated three times this season: 72-55 at the Jacobs holiday tournament on Dec. 28; 59-54 at Jacobs on Jan 18; and 66-60 in Cary on Feb. 9.
John Moran's hyper-extended hip shouldn't be an issue three days after he proved he could play through the pain. He came off the bench Tuesday to score 21 points to go with 8 rebounds and 6 assists against CL South.
Moran threw caution to the wind and hit the floor three times in that contest, twice diving after loose balls while the Jacobs' cheering section cringed. Moran got back on his feet each time.
"It didn't bother me too much," Moran said of the injury. "You don't think about it when it's all loosened up and everything. It really didn't factor in the game at all."
If anyone can exploit a slight weakness on the Jacobs' perimeter, it's Cary-Grove, which is led by seniors Paul and Mark Tometich -- each averaging 15 points a game.
The Trojans have also gotten big contributions from seniors Dan Bartz, Ben Jacquier, Matt McCord and junior point guard Pete Pellizari in winning nine of their last 10 outings.
Cary-Grove's lone regional title came in 2001, the year Dave Otto's Trojans advanced to the Sweet 16. Jacobs has won 4 regional titles, the last coming in 1998.
The winner advances to a Jacobs sectional semifinal on Tuesday against the winner of tonight's Rockford Boylan regional title game between Rockford Auburn (19-7) and Boylan (23-4). Boylan defeated Auburn 68-45 on Feb. 15.
At Elgin Larkin
Don't make late dinner plans because Elgin-St. Charles North games don't end promptly.
The last two meetings between these Upstate Eight Conference foes went to double overtime. Elgin defeated the North Stars 92-80 on Jan. 5, 2007. St. Charles North returned the favor with an 84-72 victory on Dec. 21. That win propelled St. Charles North to 15 wins in 19 games after a 2-7 start.
The Maroons (18-9) have won five straight and 11 of 13, mainly because Elgin's former weaknesses -- defense and rebounding -- have developed into strengths over the past six weeks. That transformation has this offensive juggernaut on the verge of realizing three years' worth of potential.
"The way we're defending right now I don't think there are too many teams that can play with us," said Elgin senior Jeremy Granger, who led the Maroons with 22 points in a 67-57 win over St. Charles East on Wednesday.
St. Charles North (17-11) will have the services of starting guard Tim Janeway (10.4 ppg.). North's second-leading scorer behind only 6-foot-4 guard Jonathan DeMoss (12.2 ppg) sprained his ankle in the regular-season finale against Thornwood but plans to play, according to St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin.
Otherwise, the North Stars would use an all-junior starting lineup consisting of Janeway's replacement, Mike Lefelstein (3.4 ppg.), DeMoss, athletic guard Nick Neari (9.2), 6-4 forward Zach Hirsch (8.9) and 6-7 center Mike Kastel (4.7).
Elgin coach Mike Sitter lauded North's physical strength on the perimeter, particularly that of DeMoss.
"We have to make sure we keep a body between DeMoss and the basket at all times," Sitter said.
Armani Williams leads the Maroons with 20.7 points per game. He'll try to bounce back from Wednesday's 1-for-16 shooting performance from 3-point range.
Senior guard Jeremy Granger is averaging 16 ppg. He repeatedly sliced through the lane for acrobatic layups against St. Charles East on Wednesday, when he led Elgin with 22 points.
Elgin center D'Angelo Stewart is coming off the best game of his career (15 points, 23 rebounds).
Elgin has won 39 regional titles, most recently in 2002. St. Charles North won its lone regional title in 2005.
The winner advances to a Jacobs sectional semifinal on Wednesday against the winner of tonight's Hononegah regional title game between Machesney Park Harlem (11-13) and Hononegah (27-2)
At Bartlett
Bartlett (20-7) will need the backing of its student body tonight to fend off an invading horde.
Batavia, with one of the best traditions in Illinois basketball, packs gyms during playoff times for good reason: The Bulldogs have won 5 regionals in the last six years, though they were upset in a regional title game last year by East Aurora.
Batavia is led by Northwestern-bound senior forward Nick Fruendt (6-6), a four-year starter who averages 19.5 points per game. He is supported in the starting lineup by senior guard David Bryant (13.8 ppg.), senior forward Jordan Smith (12.1), senior guard Phil Albrecht (10.2), and 6-5 center Ricky Clopton (6.6).
"Fruendt has been there for 20 years. I think he's probably 32 years old by now," first-year Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith joked. "He's definitely a capable player. We know what he can do. He can shoot, he can score, he can rebound and defend. He can handle the point.
"But Bryant and Albrecht are both very talented players. They're solid. We'll have to limit easy scores and transition baskets. We'd like to force them into a half-court set and get hands up on their shots. Fruendt and Bryant are both very capable of scoring with a defender draped on top of them. We have to limit second-chance rebounds."
Look for No. 8 Bartlett to make No. 1 Batavia play defense in half-court sets to expend energy, a plan Benet employed in nearly upsetting the Bulldogs before Albrecht saved the day with his game-winning 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left.
Bartlett, which has won 12 of its last 14 games, attacks offensively with junior point guard Marc Little (12.5 ppg.), the nephew of former Addison Trail and UIC star Cory Little.
Additional weapons Batavia must defend include sophomore shooting guard Luke Labedzki (13.8), 6-5 senior forward Cory Hrynyk (13.3) and 6-9 Eastern Michigan-bound center Kamil Janton (11.9)
Bartlett (20-7) is seeking its second regional title and first since 2001. Batavia has won 15 regional titles.
The winner of the Bartlett regional advances to an East Aurora sectional semifinal on Tuesday against the winner of tonight's Naperville North title game between No. 5 Naperville Central (20-7) and No. 13 Glenbard West (15-12).
At Sycamore (3A)
Most observers were expecting No. 1 Burlington Central (21-6) to face the host Spartans in a rubber match for the regional title tonight, but No. 2 Sycamore was upset Wednesday, 80-64, by No. 3 Oswego (15-13) in a semifinal game that was never close.
The Rockets were nearly upset victims themselves, squeezing past No. 6 Kaneland 56-55.
Oswego point guard Andrew Ralow is the player to watch. He scored 25 points in the win over Sycamore. Forward Jon Nevin scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
"We're going to have to contain Galow," said Central coach Chris Payne. "He's a very, very good player. He handles the ball real well. He's a good 3-point shooter and he has a real good mid-range game. He can pull up from 15 feet and knock down shots that way, so we have to control him a little bit.
"They are very well-coached and fundamentally sound. The other guys know their roles and do them very well. They're a lot like us. They have real good guards and everyone else fills their roles."
Mike McCurdy fought foul trouble all night against Kaneland and was eventually disqualified with 1:21 to play. Yet, the senior guard still managed 24 points and 12 rebounds. He averages an area-best 24.6 points per game.
Depth could be a factor. Oswego liberally substitutes, using a nine-man rotation, whereas, Burlington Central's five starters play the bulk of the minutes.
The winner will advance to a Freeport sectional semifinal on Wednesday against the winner of the Dixon regional final between Sterling (20-8) and Rock Falls (19-9).
At Crystal Lake Central
Huntley coach Marty Manning says no team in the Freeport sectional is 5 points better than any other. That was definitely the case in two regular-season games this season played between tonight's combatants for the regional crown, Huntley (18-9) and Crystal Lake Central (15-12).
The Red Raiders defeated the Tigers twice: 45-44 on Dan Regan's buzzer-beater on Feb. 1; and 47-43 in Crystal Lake 10 days ago.
Huntley is bidding for its fourth regional title and second straight. CL Central has won 12 regional titles, the last in 1998.
The winner will face the winner of the Marengo regional at Freeport on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.