Boys Basketball

Boys basketball: Jacobs tops Hampshire, snaps three-game losing skid

ALGONQUIN – Jacobs and James Hayes saved its best effort for crunchtime.

With Hayes scoring six points on two baskets and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, the Golden Eagles ended the game on a 10-1 run in defeating Hampshire 37-25 in Fox Valley Conference action Tuesday night in Algonquin.

Hayes ended the game with 11 points, a 3-pointer, four assists and game rebounds.

The win broke a three-game losing streak for the Eagles (3-4, 2-3).

“Down the stretch we want to execute and not turn the ball over,” Hayes said. “It was nice to get a win. We are staying together as a team. We are family.”

The Eagles salted the game making 6-of-6 down the stretch from the free-throw line, two each by Hayes, Zach Leahy and Robert Pennel.

Leahy paced the Eagles with 13 points.

“I know these guys will always play hard and with effort,” said Jacobs coach Jimmy Roberts. “We made some free throws down the stretch and found a way to win. It was nice to get a win. We need to get more consistency in practice, drills and in games.”

Jacobs’ stifling defense held the Whip-Purs (0-7, 0-5) to two baskets and six points in the second half.

Scoring 15 points in the second quarter, Hampshire managed only 10 points in the first, third and fourth quarters. During that 24-minute stretch, the Whip-Purs, who committed 11 turnovers, connected on 3-of-20 shots from the field and were 0-of-8 from beyond the arc.

“We had a mental lapse defensively in the second quarter,” Roberts said. “To hold them to 4, 2 and 4 in the first, third and fourth quarters showed the kind of defense we were playing.”

Ryan Smekrud led the Whip-Purs with 10 points.

“With so many young players we undervalued the importance of the summer league,” said Hampshire coach Mike Featherly. “In the summer, you can get used to the speed of the varsity game. The season so far has been frustrating but the effort is good and we keep fighting. I liked our defense tonight. We had good energy.”

Propelled by 3-pointers from Leahy and Nick McCoy, Jacobs got off to 9-2 lead. With Smekrud scoring seven points, including a dunk and a 3-pointer, Hampshire rallied and tied the game at 19 at intermission.

Jacobs seized control of the game by scoring the first six points of the third quarter, Leahy scored two baskets and Hayes scored on a putback as Jacobs led 25-19 with 5:44 left in the third quarter.

Hampshire scored its only points of the third quarter on a putback by Zakkery Percival with 2:55 remaining.