Jacobs secures share of FVC Valley title

John Moran just wouldn't let Jacobs lose.

Moran scored 27 points with 7 assists and 5 steals to lead Jacobs to a 66-62 win over Woodstock in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division game in Woodstock Saturday night.

The win for the Golden Eagles (8-0 FVC Valley) clinches a tie for the Valley Division championship. A victory Tuesday night against McHenry gives the Golden Eagles, 22-2 overall, their second consecutive Valley title outright. Jacobs is now 48-4 over the last two seasons and has won 30 consecutive games against FVC opponents.

"It is the first rung in the ladder," said Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle. "We win tonight and get a share of the conference title. If we beat McHenry Tuesday we win the conference outright. That's the second rung. Then, we beat Dundee-Crown Friday to go undefeated in the conference."

Moran, who scored 15 in the first half and 12 in the second half, was 11-of-18 from the field and 2-of-5 from 3-point range.

"John took over the game when we needed him to," said Hinkle. "He was going to make sure we got it done tonight."

Said Moran: "It was nice to get a share of the conference championship, but we want a lot more. We underestimated (Woodstock) and came out slow and didn't play without a lot of emotion. In the second half, we played better and played much better defense."

The Golden Eagles played without 3-year starter Tim Moran, who missed the game with mononucleosis. He will miss Tuesday's game against McHenry and is doubtful for the regular-season finale against District 300 rival Dundee-Crown in Carpentersville Friday night.

Jacobs, which committed 15 turnovers and shot 33 percent (12-of-33) in the first half, trailed Woodstock 28-27 at intermission when Derek Brown (17 points) buried a 3 to beat the buzzer.

The Golden Eagles looked revitalized to start the third quarter. Increasing the defensive heat, Jacobs forced 4 Woodstock turnovers and started the second half on a 11-1 run.

Conrad Krutwig scored 4 baskets for 8 points and Zack Peterson canned a long 3 as Jacobs turned a 1-point first half deficit into a 9-point, 38-29 advantage with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter.

The Golden Eagles' biggest lead was 60-49 after a layup by Peterson with 2:36 left.

Krutwig backed up John Moran with 17 points and 8 boards.