Glover steps back to give Eagles lift

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McHENRY – Jacobs’ Alex Glover knew he was going to have to do things a little differently.

The 6-foot-4 senior center wasn’t going to be able to simply use his size and strength to penetrate McHenry’s imposing front line.

Instead, he found another way to make an impact against the Warriors’ tough 6-5 forwards Robert Tonyan and Jamie Rammel on Tuesday.

“I was just thinking I could get shots further outside,” Glover said. “Coach (Jim Hinkle) always tells me not to dribble – just shoot – and that’s what I did.”

Glover stepped outside to bury several midrange jumpers and mixed in a couple of slick moves down the lane as he finished with 16 points and seven rebounds in the Golden Eagles’ 53-45 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win.

“He started out with two quick fouls, but he didn’t get down about it,” Hinkle said. “He was not hesitant to take the open shot and he made some nice moves tonight.”

With Glover providing a spark offensively, Jacobs’ hard-nosed defense did the rest. The Eagles’ forwards held their own inside despite the size disadvantage, and their guards created some steals and tough looks for McHenry’s long-range shooters on the perimeter.

Jacobs (3-10 overall, 1-1 FVC Valley) led, 22-20, at the half after holding the Warriors to 1 for 10 shooting from the field in the second quarter. McHenry didn’t have a field goal in the quarter until a three-pointer by Jasper Taylor (8 points) with 1:02 remaining.

Glover scored 10 of the Eagles’ 14 points in the third quarter to help the visitors carry a 36-31 advantage into the fourth.

After Will Schwerdtmann (7 points, 9 rebounds) raised up and knocked down a midrange jumper of his own, Jacobs had its biggest lead of the contest, 42-35, with 4:12 left to play.

Tonyan (13 points, 14 rebounds) did his best to will the Warriors (5-8, 0-2) to a win down the stretch. The senior forward scored four consecutive points to get the hosts back in the game.

But Jacobs’ Johnny Holbrook (7 points, 5 assists, 3 steals) answered with a steal and bucket and Schwerdtmann followed with another jumper to put the upset-minded Eagles back up seven with 1:39 remaining.

“Our defensive intensity was great all night, especially with our guards getting steals,” Glover said. “That really helped us.”

Shane Varvil tried to keep McHenry alive with a long three in the final minute, but Jacobs sank 7 of 8 free throws in the final two minutes to hold off the threat.

“We were able to get all five guys in on the glass and got some rebounds tonight,” Hinkle said. “We hadn’t been doing that this year, so this is a big step up for us.”

Brad Cleveland also scored in double figures for the Eagles, with 10 points on 6 of 6 shooting from the free-throw line.

Rammel added nine points and eight boards for the Warriors, who shot 14 of 44 from the field and 11 of 22 from the foul line.

“We just couldn’t get the basketball in the hole,” McHenry coach Tim Paddock said. “We had some good looks and they just didn’t go down.”