Dundee-Crown outlasts Jacobs
Dundee-Crown saved its best for last.
Outscoring District 300 rival Jacobs 13-3 in the final 4 minutes of the game, the Chargers broke a 4-game losing streak with a hard-fought 40-34 win over the Golden Eagles in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division boys basketball game in Algonquin Friday night.
“Boy, we needed this one,” said Dundee-Crown coach Lance Huber. “The kids really battled and finished strong at the end. We really tightened up our defense, especially at the end and we made our free throws. It seems like a long time since we won a game. This was a good win.”
The Golden Eagles (13-12, 5-3) grabbed a 31-27 lead after a 15-footer by Nick Hofman with 4 minutes remaining in the game. It would be the last points Jacobs would score for over 3 minutes.
A crucial 9-0 run by the Chargers was spearheaded by sophomores Brandon Rodriguez and Dylan Kissack. Kissack canned a 3-pointer and made 2-of-2 free throws and Rodriguez nailed an 18-footer as the Chargers turned a 4-point deficit into a 5-point lead, 36-31, with 33 seconds left.
Jon Kowalski’s putback with 28 seconds left pulled the Golden Eagles within 3, 36-33, with 23 seconds remaining. Jacobs couldn’t climb any closer.
D-C (12-12, 4-6) sealed the win with 2 free throws each by Ryan Smith and Nathan Kirchoff in the final 16 seconds.
“Our sophomores, Dylan and Brandon, played very well and are getting better every game,” said Huber. “They made some big shots at the end of the game.”
Kissack led the Chargers with 11 points while Rodriguez (7 rebounds, 3 assists), Smith and Kevin Cronin had 6 points each.
“It was a nerve-racking game especially at the end,” said Rodriguez. “We pulled together at the end and we made our free throws. We needed this win after losing four games in a row.”
Jacobs, which made only 14-of-45 shots for 31 percent and 1-of-10 from 3-point range, was led by Hofman with 15 points. The Jacobs senior also grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 3 assists in a losing cause.
“We got very good shots,” said Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle. “The bottom line is that we just couldn’t put the ball in the basket. Wow, we allow them 40 points and can’t win. It is hard to win with only 34 points.”