High school boys basketball: Crystal Lake South edges Jacobs

CRYSTAL LAKE – Ian Gorken usually provides hustle and effort for Crystal Lake South’s boys basketball team, but not a lot of points.

However, when the ball ended up in Gorken’s hands, wide open and about 20 feet from the basket in a two-point game, the junior guard did not hesitate.

“When the game comes down to that, I always feel confident,” Gorken said. “I knew it was my time, and my teammates trusted me. It was my first shot of the game and I’m glad it went in.”

Gorken’s 3-pointer with 2:05 remaining was a pivotal basket for the Gators, who struggled offensively in the second half before finally nudging Jacobs, 40-35, in their Fox Valley Conference game Saturday at The Swamp.

Jacobs’ Matt McCoy nailed his third 3 of the second half 15 seconds later to cut South’s lead to two at 35-33, but the Gators (13-6, 5-3 FVC) hit five of their last six free throws to seal the win.

“We’ve had a lot of guys step up in big moments like that, like (Patrick) Fischer and (Ryan) Lawson,” Gators coach Matt LePage said. “It was Ian’s turn. That basically was a game-winner. It was a big shot in a big spot for him.”

Matt Reall, who led all players with 17 points, hit two free throws with 1:32 remaining. Lawson made one with 43 seconds to go, then Ben Geske made a pair with 11 seconds left to finish off the Golden Eagles (8-10, 2-6).

“Matt McCoy made a bunch of great shots, (Jaden) Henderson played really well,” Reall said. “They’re two good players and we lost our mojo a bit there, then we settled down and hit our shots at the line.”

South jumped to a 22-8 halftime lead behind its 1-3-1 trapping defense, which produced 13 Jacobs turnovers in the first half. The Eagles turned things around with a 13-3 third-quarter advantage. McCoy’s two late 3s cut the lead to four at 25-21 heading into the fourth.

“It was a matter of catching and looking forward,” Eagles coach Jimmy Roberts said. “I probably had us a little too stationary in the first half. In the second half, we told our guys to look forward. In the first half we were catching and looking at traps coming at us.”

Jacobs turned over the ball only three times in the second half.

“We lost McCoy a few times, and he’s the one guy you can’t lose,” LePage said. “Every time I felt we knew where he was, we were effective. We lost him twice, and they made it a game.”

Jacobs could not get closer than two points in the fourth quarter.

“We tried to take care of the ball as much as possible,” Geske said. “As long as we weren’t giving them steals and turnovers that were going the other way, we were pretty good.”

STAR OF THE GAME

Matt Reall

Crystal Lake South, sr., F

Reall scored a game-high 17 points and hit two crucial free throws with 1:32 remaining to put the Gators’ lead at four points.

THE NUMBER

12: Turnovers forced by South in the first half, which was key to the Gators building a 22-8 halftime lead.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

Reall had a steal and dunk in the first half, then almost had another dunk a few minutes later, but the pass he received was a little too far in front for him to get the proper steps, so he laid it in.

Crystal Lake South 40, Jacobs 35

JACOBS (35)

Ramsey 0 0-0 0, McCoy 3 1-2 10, Balkcom 1 2-2 4, Henderson 5 2-3 12, Lyons 0 0-0 0, Hayes 1 0-0 2, Leahy 2 1-2 6, Lewis 0 0-0 0, Anderson 0 1-2 1. Totals: 12 7-11 35.

CL SOUTH (40)

Geske 1 4-4 6, Lawson 2 1-4 5, Miller 0 0-0 0, Reall 6 4-7 17, Haskin 1 2-3 4, Fischer 1 0-0 2, Jewson 0 1-2 1, Glamoc 1 0-0 2, Gorken 1 0-0 3. Totals: 13 12-20 40.

Jacobs 5 3 13 14 – 35

CL South 13 9 3 15 – 40

3-point goals: Jacobs 4 (McCoy 3, Leahy), CL South 2 (Reall, Gorken). Total fouls: Jacobs 14, CL South 15.