Boylan's own superhero finds a way to contain Moran

Even Superman didn't succeed all the time.

And the culprit in the Jacobs Field House that led to the end of the host Golden Eagles' boys basketball season Tuesday night wore the same color that did in Superman -- green. As in Kryptonite.

This Superman slayer was Rockford Boylan senior Michael Edwards, who took on the task of shutting down Jacobs' Superman -- senior John Moran -- and did it with Kryptonite-like efficiency.

After Moran had scored 15 points in the game's first 11 minutes, 3 seconds, Boylan coach Steve Goers switched to a defense he called "special."

And boy was it -- for the Titans, anyway.

Edwards was assigned to Moran and stuck to him closer than the paparazzi stick to Brittney Spears. The result? Moran might not have touched the ball a dozen times the rest of the night. He didn't score again and had only 3 shots in the second half -- the last one a 3-pointer to tie as time was running out that clanked off the back of the rim.

Boylan 66, Jacobs 63. In a game the Golden Eagles led by 15 points when Moran scored his final points and by 17 just before that.

"Boylan's a great team," said Moran, one of the classiest kids to ever play the game around here or anywhere. "They went to the box-and-one and the guy (Edwards) was face-guarding me the whole way. I couldn't get shots … I could barely get the ball."

But one game will never define John Moran's career at Jacobs. Just in the last two seasons, the Golden Eagles went 52-5. He leaves Jacobs having scored 1,918 points, not to mention all the assists, steals, rebounds and leadership he provided coach Jim Hinkle's program the last four years.

"He's more than special," said Hinkle, who admitted this was his toughest loss in 38 years of coaching. "He rubbed off on everyone and he set the standard for the program. He's the single reason everyone played so hard.

"I've been coaching since 1964 and I've had one John Moran. I'd say I'm not going to have any others."

Moran, who will now take his talents to Northern Iowa, earned Edwards' respect as well.

"We've played some good teams but John is very good," said Edwards. "He was tough in the first half but then we figured out what he was doing."

And Edwards did to Moran what few, if any, players have been able to -- shut him down. Completely.

"Edwards is the guy," Goers said. "Moran's a great player but Edwards is the guy."

As Superman hung up his Jacobs cape for the final time he was, as always, respectful and humble.

"It's been an amazing four years. I just can't believe it's over so soon," Moran said. "The kid did a great job of not letting me get the ball. That's the best defense I've played against."

But remember, even Superman overcame Kryptonite -- and you can bet John Moran will too.