Ledinsky leads way for Eagles

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ALGONQUIN – Jacobs boys basketball coach Jim Hinkle spent much of Monday’s practice telling his 6-foot-4 junior guard, Nick Ledinsky, to just shoot the basketball.

Hinkle wasn’t sure whether Ledinsky loved or hated him for it before the Golden Eagles faced Prairie Ridge on Tuesday in a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division game.

Regardless, Ledinsky’s performance showed he had paid attention. Ledinsky notched a double-double, with 16 points and 13 rebounds, in the Eagles’ 58-29 rout of the Wolves.

“He had a really solid game,” Hinkle said. “I was all over him in practice [Monday] … but I told him he needed to look to score. If you’re being told to shoot, shoot. He had a great night.”

Ledinsky already had helped the Eagles build a 23-11 advantage with 3 seconds remaining in the first half when he made the most exciting play of the game. Jacobs senior guard Bobby Mladenovic attempted a three-pointer as time expired, and Ledinsky grabbed for the rebound and tossed in a one-handed putback to give Jacobs the 14-point lead at halftime.

“I was getting more looks and was able to capitalize on what I had,” Ledinsky said. “I was just able to get to the basket.”

Ledinsky’s performance was only one of the night’s bright spots for Jacobs (4-15 overall, 2-2 FVC Valley). The Eagles also had their most productive night of the season on the boards, outrebounding the Wolves (4-15, 0-5), 32-19, with almost half of their second-half points coming from putbacks.

Long known for their preference to run the floor, Jacobs forced Prairie Ridge into 21 turnovers, got up and down the court efficiently and managed its own possessions well, giving the ball away just 10 times.

“We’re not as bad as our record indicates,” Hinkle said. “We went to Rockford [last weekend] and played Neuqua Valley, Auburn, Hononegah, and we’ve played really well. We played [FVC Valley leader] Huntley well, were only down by three points in the fourth quarter, so we’re right there. We feel like we’re really close and it’s frustrating.

“We needed a win like tonight.”

Prairie Ridge led briefly, 7-4, in the first quarter thanks to a three-pointer from sophomore guard Michael Bradshaw and a low-post bucket from sophomore center Shane Evans at the 4:18 mark. But the Eagles went on a 10-point run that included a three-pointer from junior forward Will Schwerdtmann and a transition bucket from Ledinsky to give Jacobs the lead, 14-7, at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles didn’t allow Prairie Ridge to score for the first 6 minutes of the second quarter. By the time Wolves senior guard Connor Perry scored on a backdoor play, the Eagles led, 21-9.

Jacobs also held Prairie Ridge’s leading scorer, senior guard Sean Valentine, to five points. Valentine averages 13.9 points a game.

“We’re struggling,” Prairie Ridge coach Corky Card said. “ ... [Jacobs] played well, and I think they got the shots they wanted.”