Jordan, Neuqua Valley dig deep to prevail on defense
Neuqua Valley needed something -- anything -- to stop Justin Peaster and Waubonsie Valley's momentum.
The Wildcats turned to T.J. Jordan.
"Right there, 44," Wildcats coach Todd Sutton said after the game, pointing two proud fingers at his senior guard as he jogged toward the locker room. "Completely changed the game with his effort, his hustle, his rebounding. Everyone fed off T.J. tonight."
The Wildcats' 56-51 boys basketball victory over Waubonsie Valley on Wednesday in the Class 4A East Aurora sectional semifinals truly did turn into a feeding frenzy.
Waubonsie Valley bolted to a 10-point lead behind Peaster's 12 third-quarter points. The Warriors seemed destined for a blowout, but Jordan's intensity -- and his stellar perimeter defense on Peaster -- allowed the Wildcats to catch their collective breath and chip away.
"He played real tight," Peaster said of Jordan. "He was face-guarding me the whole time. He wasn't worried about anyone else on the court."
During a third-quarter timeout in the midst of Waubonsie Valley's run, Neuqua Valley settled into its game plan and stuck to it.
"Coach told us at the beginning that we were going to face adversity," Jordan said. "And we faced adversity that first half and the third quarter. I told the guys if I come in I'm giving a spark, I'm giving it all. I wanted to make sure I did everything I can to spark the team.
"Everyone just followed after that."
The Wildcats were in the bonus early in the second half, allowing them to pound the ball inside to 6-foot-8 center Dan Pawelski. Nearly every time he either scored or went to the line. Or both with a three-point play.
Waubonsie Valley scored with 6:36 left to go ahead 47-38, but the Warriors were held scoreless for the next six minutes as Neuqua Valley reclaimed the lead by repeatedly going to the post.
"It slowed the game down a lot for us," said Pawelski, who scored 7 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. "Once we were in the bonus we said we've got to get it inside. And then composure. I mean, it was crazy out there. I think we handled the pressure well and stayed calm."
An 11-0 run, capped by Brad Keeler's 3-pointer, gave Neuqua Valley the lead for good at 49-47. Pawelski scored 4 points and blocked two shots in the burst. Six-five Dwayne Evans and Derek Raridon each scored inside and Jordan had the hustle play of the night when he dove on the floor for a loose ball and called timeout to give possession to the Wildcats.
Never panicking in the face of a big deficit to its chief rival with the season on the line, Neuqua Valley patiently used its inside advantage to avenge its last-second loss to the Warriors earlier this season.
Now the Wildcats are a win away from their first sectional championship.
"We knew in our heads we could pull this one out," Jordan said. "We had to dig deep."