Hauser’s Jake Barriger shoots over Jac-Cen-Del’s Johnny Newhart Friday at Hauser High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
HOPE — Hauser’s attempt at double-digit comeback in the second half Friday night almost happened.
The Jets came within three points on a couple occasions in the final two minutes of regulation, but Jac-Cen-Del hit enough free throws late to hold on for a 57-52 win.
It was a quick and early 8-0 deficit in the first minute of the game that proved costly in the end for Hauser.
“It’s about eliminating the slow starts. It’s something that’s hurt us in previous games. Coming out of the gate a little quicker would be a lot better when you look at the full picture of the game,” Hauser coach Trent Moorhead said. “That hurt us. Turnovers in the first half, as well as unforced errors in the first half, made it a lot tougher to climb the hill to get back in the game at the end.”
A layup from the Jets’ Gavin Keller made it 53-50 with about 1:30 left in the game. On the ensuing possession, the Eagles (11-9) played keepaway to chew up a lot of clock, making Hauser (8-10) forced to foul. Seth Drockelman hit two free throws to make it 55-50.
The Jets committed a turnover on the next possession, but Matt Dickman missed the front end of a one-and-one to give Hauser another chance. Ledger Gelfius was fouled and hit two free throws to make it 55-52 with about 15 seconds left. Drockelman then hit two more free throws to seal the game for the Eagles.
“I thought we fought our tails off. We played really hard to get back and make it a one-possession, two-possession game in the fourth quarter,” Moorhead said. “That’s credit to our guys. They’ve been doing it all season long. They never quit. We’re going to find a way to get back in the game.”
The Jets climbed back from the early 8-0 deficit with a couple 3-pointers from Stryker Gill to trail 12-11. The Eagles ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to make it 17-11.
After a 3-pointer from Devin Grieshop gave Jac-Cen-Del a 20-11 lead, a Kameron Blair 3-point-play capped a Hauser 5-0 run to make it 20-16.
It seemed like every attempt the Jets had to cut into the deficit late in the first half, the Eagles responded with a 3-pointer at the other end to maintain their cushion. Jac-Cen-Del took a 30-23 lead into the locker room.
Hauser faced its largest deficit of the game late in the third quarter at 46-33, and that prompted a timeout. Following the timeout, the Jets cut into the lead at the line to make it 46-37 heading into the fourth.
Gill and Taeshaun Tungate had 15 points apiece to lead the Jets.
“A credit to Jac-Cen-Del, they’re a good team, and they shot the ball well,” Moorhead said. “Credit to them for making shots. I thought we did a good job doing our best to hustle and close out on shooters. They just made them and a lot of them. It put us too far behind. I’m proud of the effort that we put forth to get back in that to either tie it up or win the game.”
Jac-Cen-Del 57, Hauser 52
Jac-Cen-Del;17;13;16;11;—;57
Hauser;11;12;14;15;—;52
Jac-Cen-Del (11-9): Grieshop 7 0-0 17, Drockelman 5 4-4 17, Dickman 3 2-3 8, Dwenger 2 1-2 5, Kohlman 1 0-2 2, Brook 1 0-0 2, Newhart 2 0-0 6, Groth 0 0-2 0. Totals: 21 7-13 57.
Hauser (8-10): Alex Cord 1 0-0 2, Alex Bower 0 0-0 0, Ledger Gelfius 1 4-4 6, Stryker Gill 3 7-8 15, Gavin Keller 1 0-0 2, Kameron Blair 2 2-3 7, Jake Barriger 2 0-0 4, Taeshaun Tungate 6 3-5 15, Owen McIntyre 0 1-2 1. Totals: 16 17-21 52.
3-point goals: Jac-Cen-Del 8 (Grieshop 3, Drockelman 3, Newhart 2); Hauser 3 (Gill 2, Blair).
