Jacobs handles D-C, savors first conference title

Jacobs was taking no chances.

With the first girls basketball conference title in school history within reach, the Golden Eagles took care of business early against rival Dundee-Crown Friday night.

Jacobs raced out to a 16-0 lead and continued to pull away for a 61-24 win, clinching a share of the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division championship. The Eagles share the title with Cary-Grove, which beat Huntley 50-38 Friday.

Hailey Cnota scored 14 points, Maria Tamburrino added 11, and Sierra Dunner and Cassidy Sherman had 10 apiece for Jacobs. All 7 Golden Eagles who saw action scored at least 4 points.

The key to the Eagles' season has been "just coming together as a team," said Golden Eagle Kathleen Mammoser.

"Especially since we're not a big team," added Kelsey Quitschau. "We're all little girls, so it's important that we play together."

Jacobs (23-6, 9-1) led 30-10 at halftime, then squelched any thought of a D-C comeback by outscoring the hosts 23-4 in the third quarter. The Eagles pushed the lead to 40 points on a free throw by Melanie Schwerdtmann late in the game.

The Eagles celebrated by donning T-shirts announcing them as conference champions, and head coach Ed Haugens came out of the locker room with the obligatory Gatorade shower.

"This is the first time its ever been done," he said of the conference title, "And I'm just happy to be here when it happened."

He wasn't taking all the credit, though.

"This wouldn't have happened without my assistant coaches (Matt Smith, Joe Benoit, Dave Petrosky and Steve Szabo)," Haugens said. "The girls have done an incredible job, but this wouldn't have happened without those guys."

Dana Ewert provided most of the Chargers' offense in the first half with a pair of second-quarter 3-pointers. Megan Fasanella heated up late, scoring 9 of her team-high 10 points after the break.