Trojans Use Second-half Run to Win at Jacobs Holiday Classic

Going into bracket play Wednesday afternoon, Cary-Grove's boys' basketball team was 1-2 in the Jacobs Holiday Classic after pool play.

The Trojans fell behind early but used a 17-2 run in the second half to defeat Elk Grove 49-41 in the Consolation B bracket of the tournament. Cary (5-7) fell behind 26-22 at the half and came out strong in the second half, scoring the first six points of the second half to take a 28-26 lead.

The Grenadiers retook the lead at 35-32 before C-G went on their scoring binge to ice the game away including a Ben Bradshaw shot at the end of the third quarter to give Cary the lead for good.

Cary coach Ralph Schuetzle said that the team played a very solid second half.

"We felt whoever dominated or won the third quarter was probably going to win the game," Schuetzle said. "We were able to get a nice, little lead and were able to hold on. We really needed that, it was a good win for us."

Schuetzle added that the bench gave the team a spark in the win.

"Bradshaw and Graham gave us some good minutes and Anderson got a big offensive rebound for us down the stretch," Schuetzle said. "We shot free-throws well down the stretch, we really had some of our subs really help us."

Nick Richter scored 13 points while Jon Guay added 12 for Cary, who will play Fox Valley Conference rival Crystal Lake South in Thursday's Consolation B bracket championship game.

Guay said that the win was big because it gives Cary the chance to play South before the conference season in January.

"It's good for us to go against their 1-3-1 zone and see what we can do against it," Guay said. "Then we can look at some tape and see what we can do against them in the conference."

Schuetzle echoed Guay's sentiments about seeing the Gators' defensive alignment and the fact that the two teams are now asserted to play at least three times this season.

"It's good because we get another look at their 1-3-1, the more we get to face it, the better off we will be," Schuetzle said. "I think two years ago, we played them three times. Not too many people have cracked their zone so this will be a good opportunity for us."

Richter said that the team needed the victory after losing their last two games.

"We needed this win to get us going again after the tough loss yesterday," Richter said. "For us to come back and get a close to a ten-point win was really great for us."

Thursday's game will be the sixth in eight days for Cary.