Jacobs' Hinkle notches 500th win

Jacobs boys basketball coach Jim Hinkle won the 500th game of his coaching career as his Golden Eagles knocked off visiting Crystal Lake South Friday, 61-48.

Jacobs (4-18, 1-6 Fox Valley Valley Division) held a 6-point lead at halftime and outscored the Gators (12-10, 5-3) 17-8 in the third quarter to take control. Junior point guard Mike Peterson scored 18 points, senior Sean Meyer finished with 17 points and senior guard Matt Schmidt added 15 points for Jacobs, which snapped a 10-game losing streak.

"It's nice," Hinkle said of the milestone, "but what's nicer is that the kids got paid off and got to go home with a smile on their face tonight. That was fun. They've been working so hard and everything has gone wrong, so it was really thrilling to see them go home smiling."

Hinkle is in his 35th season as a head coach, including six seasons at Elgin Community College. Elected to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in November, the Missouri native's overall coaching record improved to 500-486. Hinkle is 417-358 at the high school level.

The Jacobs coach was presented with the game ball after the victory in a ceremony that had been on hold since the Golden Eagles' last victory on Dec. 26.

"It's been cooking so long it was burned," Hinkle said of the ceremony in his trademark self-deprecating style. "You do something long enough these things happen. It's never been a goal. The goal has always been to work with young people and to teach. I just count my blessings that I've been able to do that.

"And I've been able to teach a lot this year. It's been a lot more satisfying or enjoyable than people on the outside might think. Between kids that have hung in there and done things they were supposed to and the little successes coming together, it's been enjoyable. It was really exciting tonight, and that was more exciting than any number and any win total."