Coming off a close loss in the first game of the Edinburgh Holiday Classic Tournament, the Hauser boys basketball team knew that they would have a tall task ahead of them literally and figuratively in its second game Monday against a Jac-Cen-Del team that also had a close loss to a good South Decatur team in its first game.
Unfortunately for the Jets, they fell short in this game, as well, losing to the Eagles 70-41.
Hauser coach Brent Keck knew what his team was facing against Jac-Cen-Del.
“They have a really nice team. They are long, athletic, and they can shoot the ball really well,” Keck said. “We made some mistakes tonight, and you can’t make mistakes against a good team like that.”
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The Jets (4-5) hung with the Eagles early in the game. An Eli Miller bucket gave Hauser a 9-7 lead early in the opening period. Jac-Cen-Del (7-2) promptly tied the game on its next possession, and then a 3 from Will Neal gave the Eagles the 12-9 lead. Hauser was then able to take the lead on a Bryce Bates basket to make it 17-16, but that was the final time Hauser would find itself in front. Caleb Simon drained a 3 at the end of the period to give the Eagles a 25-19 lead going into the second quarter. Jac-Cen-Del hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter and nine for the game.
The Jets went cold in the second quarter, only managing six points. They did manage to hold Jac-Cen-Del to 13 points in the period, but the cold shooting Jets still found themselves trailing 38-25 at the break.
“We are a work in progress offensively,” Keck stated. “We are trying to find our identity and learn to value each possession. We also need to finish our possessions around the rim.”
Things did not get any better for Hauser after halftime. A Kobe Meahl 3-pointer brought the Jets to within 40-30, but the Eagles did not let the game get any closer. Jac-Cen-Del went on a 16-6 run, and by the end of three quarters, they held a commanding 56-36 lead.
The final quarter was more of the same from the Eagles. They controlled the boards and clamped down on the Jets defensively, holding Hauser to just five points in the quarter while scoring 14 of their own to win the game comfortably.
Bates led Hauser on the night, scoring a hard-earned 14 points.
In the first game against Hagerstown, the Jets fell 39-38. Bates led the way for the Jets with 14 points.
The Jets will be back in Edinburgh when they play South Putnam in the seventh place game at 2 p.m. today.
