Jacobs 59, Rockford Auburn 51
ROCKFORD -- Rockford Auburn nearly ran Jacobs out of the gym. But once the Golden Eagles were able to control the tempo -- and Anita Amisi -- they took control of the game. Jacobs defeated the Knights, 59-51, to win the Jefferson Class 4A regional in Rockford.
The Eagles (17-11) will play St. Charles North (21-5) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Hononegah sectional in Rockton.
Keri Bultman scored 15 points to lead Jacobs. Maria Tamburrino added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the Eagles.
Jacobs trailed most of the game. The Eagles didn't take the lead for good until Markie Rahn made 2 free throws at the end of the third quarter.
Until then, the Eagles had trouble adjusting to Auburn's frenetic pace. The Knights raced up and down the court, often finding Amisi for open 3-pointers. Amisi scored 14 points as Jacobs, despite shooting 50 percent, found itself trailing 34-33 at halftime
After the break, the Eagles were able to slow down the pace and keep track of Amisi on defense. She scored 8 more points in the third quarter but none in the fourth and finished with 22.
"We were playing their game most of the time in the beginning," said Bultman. "We wanted to start playing our game. We were running back and forth and getting tired. We wanted to just work on our offense and get the open shots, and they started falling more.
"We worked so hard to get those shots on offense, and then 3 seconds later they'd make a shot."
Much of the turnaround was just a matter of confidence.
"We took care of 23 (Amisi), and I think the girls played with a lot more confidence," said Jacobs coach Ed Haugens. "We let them do whatever they wanted in the first half, and defensively the girls came out (in the second half) and executed what we were trying to do in the first half."
Hailey Cnota added 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocked shots for Jacobs. Katy Cook, Rahn, and K.C. Roller scored 6 points apiece.
After falling behind 9-0, the Eagles fought back to tie the game at 12. Jacobs took the lead briefly in the second quarter before falling behind at the break.
They started slowly again in the second half. The Eagles missed their first 10 shots as the Knights, who finished the season 17-12, built the lead back to 40-33.
Defense started the Eagles' comeback. Tamburrino made a steal and fed Sam Vojtsek for a 3-pointer. After another steal on the next possession, Tamrurrino drove in for the breakaway layup. Her 3-pointer then gave the Eagles a 43-31 lead.
Amisi's final points of the night briefly regained the lead for Auburn before Rahn's free throws put the Eagles ahead to stay.