Gators hang on

Jacobs boys basketball players cheer after a three-pointer cut Jacobs' deficit to one point in the fourth quarter Friday at Crystal Lake South, but South went on to win, 55-53. (Jenny Kane- jkane@shawmedia.com)

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CRYSTAL LAKE – Crystal Lake South did a lot right in the first half Friday, playing some of its most efficient offense of the season.

The second half was a completely different story, as the Gators struggled against Jacobs’ intense defensive pressure, but did just enough right.

Not until the final buzzer, as Jacobs guard Brad Cleveland’s 7-foot bank shot rolled off the rim, could South take a deep breath of relief, having held off the Golden Eagles, 55-53, in their Fox Valley Conference Valley Division boys basketball game at Gator Alley.

“It really helped that we made our free throws in the fourth quarter,” Gators guard Nick Geske said. “We did a good job taking care of the ball in the fourth quarter.”

South (5-13 overall, 3-3 FVC Valley) shot well and took great care of the ball earlier and built a 38-18 lead early in the third quarter. Then, it was as if someone flipped a switch. Jacobs (4-16, 2-3) scored 15 consecutive points, with 11 of those coming from forward Will Schwerdtmann, who hit three three-pointers.

The Gators committed 10 turnovers in the third quarter and only eight in the other three combined.

“We had turnovers, and some of the missed shots were like turnovers,” Gators coach Dan DeBruycker said. “We panicked a little bit and it kind of snowballed. I’m proud of the way they handled themselves after that.”

After a 35-point first half, the Gators scored 20 in the second.

“We were running our offense at our own pace in the first half,” Geske said. “In the third quarter we rushed it too much and turned it over a lot and put ourselves in a hole.”

Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said he did not raise his voice at halftime, but the words apparently sank in with the players.

“Coach gave a good speech and we came out inspired to play,” Cleveland said. “We got some steals and good momentum there. We should have played like that the entire game.”

The Eagles cut the lead to 40-37 early in the fourth quarter, but South pushed it back to 48-39. Jacobs kept chipping away as Cleveland scored all of his eight points in the final quarter.

“I was very disappointed [at halftime],” Hinkle said. “I just expressed my disappointment. They were just as disappointed in themselves. They went and did something about it.”

South was clinging to a two-point lead twice in the final 1:18, and Eric Schiller made a pair of free throws both times. Cleveland nailed a three from the left corner with 19 seconds remaining, and South’s Xoni Veseli made a free throw with 16 seconds to go.

Cleveland, a left-handed shooter, found a sliver of room in the final seconds and split two South defenders on the left side for a quality shot from 7 feet.

“I always know driving to the lane is my strong suit,” Cleveland said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better shot. I make that shot 99 out of 100 times.”

Max Meitzler led South with 19 points and eight rebounds. Geske added 10.

Nick Ledinsky topped Jacobs with 19 points and Schwerdtmann added 15, 13 of those in the second half.