Jac-Cen-Del ends Jets run for sectional trophy

For three quarters Saturday night, the fate of the sectional championship trophy was still in the air. Hauser had given favored Jac-Cen-Del all they could handle. But a big fourth quarter from the Eagles allowed them to pull away for the championship victory, defeating the Jets 61-46.

The final score was deceiving, to say the least. Going into the final period, Jac-Cen-Del clung to a 42-40 lead. The upstart Jets along with their fans were smelling an upset victory. But Eagle seniors Wyatt Day and Caleb Simon were determined to dash any hopes Hauser had of hoisting the trophy. Day and Simon each scored nine points in the final eight minutes to help Jac-Cen-Del outscore Hauser 19-6 in the deciding quarter to ensure that it would be their team taking the trophy home.

In the first quarter, it appeared that the championship contest would not be a game at all. The Eagles came out on fire and bolted out to a 20-8 lead.

Hauser’s only answer during the quarter was Koby Johnson, who kept the Jets within striking distance by scoring six points in the period.

The script was flipped in the second quarter, however. The fighting Jets did not hang their heads or pack their bags. They did just the opposite. Hauser dug in defensively and held Jac-Cen-Del to six points in the period. Meanwhile, Johnson continued his offensive onslaught, scoring nine more points to give him 15 in the first half alone. Johnson, along with the team defense allowed Hauser to pull within a point by halftime, trailing 26-25.

A Bryce Bates’ field goal on Hauser’s first possession after the break gave the Jets its first and only lead of the game. That was short-lived as the Eagles’ Devin Grieshop answered Hauser’s two with a three, putting Jac-Cen-Del back on top, this time to stay. The Jets hung tough for the entire quarter, but were unable to get over the hump. Eli Miller did all he could as he nailed three shots from long distance to keep the Jets close and give them a chance going into the final quarter.

But Jac-Cen-Del was having none of the upset bid, and pulled away to win the sectional championship. Hauser ends the year at 11-14. The four Jet seniors represented themselves well in their final game in a Hauser uniform. Johnson led the way with 15 points. Bates contributed 13, while Miller ended the night with 11. Cole Renner added two points and several solid minutes off the bench.