Osgood Journal Sports
March 6, 2007

Jac-Cen-Del Eagles continue winning trend
Eagles sweep Sectional #58 competition by 44 point margin

Gary Franklin - Sports Editor


The 97th Annual IHSAA Boys' Basketball Tournament Series will feature the Jac-Cen-Del Eagles as a part of the Class 1A Sweet 16, following their Sectional #58 victories at South Decatur High School.
The Eagles managed to blow by their competition with scores of 99-62 over the Rising Sun Shiners and then win the championship in like fashion, with a commanding 60-49 win over the Madison Shawe Hilltoppers.
The championship match was a reset of last year's sectional, pairing the Hilltoppers and the Eagles, but that was the only resemblance to it as their was no overtime and no double overtime, just Eagles, Eagles, and more Eagles, from the center court tip to the sounding of the final horn. The Eagles diligently left no stone unturned. (If you know where I spent my Friday, that has significant meaning in itself).
Often absent in the scoring column for the most part during the regular season games for the Eagles, "Mr. Sectional", senior Justin Huff made a grand resurgence in the championship game ringing up (5 for 5) 3 pointers and a FG.
Huff opened the game's scoring with an Eagle 3. Hilltopper senior Benjamin Murphy countered with a FG for 3-2. Huff added to his tally with a FG off a steal and assist by senior teammate Tucker Brown for 5-2. Shawe sophomore Nicholas Hall netted the FG for 5-4 which led to an Eagle Brown's 1 of 2 FT attempts made for 6-4. Shawe called their first timeout.
With 2:42 remaining in the first, Eagle sophomore Blake Sutton created a steal and with an ensuing break away lay up doubled the score at 8-4. Eagle sophomore Matt Gehl followed suit with a FG for 10-4. Down to 40 seconds remaining in the quarter, Hilltopper Murphy drained a 3, 10-7. An uncanny Eagle Huff responded, delivering the long range 3 for 13-7. For his third 3 of the opening quarter, Eagle Huff rebounded the missed Topper shot, reeled and launched from the volleyball service line on the opposite end of the court to find the back board square for a perfect bank shot, giving the Eagles a 16-7 lead.
In opening the second quarter of play the Toppers had the out of bound possession where they rallied for a 7 point run. Scoring for the Toppers was Murphy with 2 FG's along with senior Todd Ungru's making 1 of 2 FT's and a FG. The game now at its closest with only a 2 point Eagle lead, 16-14.
The Eagles responded with an 11 point scoring frenzy, despite the Hilltopper's two called time outs, and managed to finish the second quarter action back on top by 13 at 27-14. Scoring for the Eagles was the result of a 4th Huff 3, a Matt Gehl 3, a Brown FG, and the first FG by junior Brandon Gehl, along with senior Daniel Leonetti's making of 1 of 2 FT's.
The third quarter's play began with the Eagles in possession of the ball and the game as they added 4 more points for 31-14. Those points off a Brandon Gehl FG and 2 for 2 FT shooting by Brown. Shawe's Murphy scored a FG and Eagle Sutton countered leading to a fourth MS timeout.
Following the timeout, Eagle Huff launched his fifth 3 taking the Eagle lead to 20 at 36-16. Topper Lauster made a 3, but the Eagles rallied for 8 straight. Each scoring FG's were Brandon Gehl, Brown, Sutton and Matt Gehl. Toppers Murphy and Ungru added a FG each to end the third quarter JCD 44-23.
Toppers Murphy and Hall lit the nets with a trey each to begin the fourth and junior Jason Bump added a FG, cutting into the Eagle cushion. Two Eagle timeouts later, Brown scored a FG for the Eagles. Topper Ungru and Eagle Brown exchanged FG shots. Topper Bump added a FG and teammate Murphy buried a long distance 3. Eagle Brandon Gehl ended the play with a FG leading to a fifth Shawe called timeout with 4:04 remaining and the Eagles up 50-38.
Back to back fouls called put Topper Hall on the line where he connected on 3 of 4 shots. Eagle Brown scored a FG and Topper Ungru countered. Eagles Brandon Gehl and Sutton each completed their 2 for 2 FT opportunities, giving JCD the lead at 56-43 with 2:09 remaining in regulation.
Topper Lauster scored a 3. Eagle Brown netted a FG and a pair of FT's. With 42.8 seconds left, Topper Hall made 1 of 2 FT's. An Eagle timeout allowed Coach Bradshaw the playing of the rest of his bench for the balance of the game.
A steal by Topper junior Luke Wise led to his FG and the last score of the game. Eagle junior Coty Horn dribbled the ball until the rest of the clock could expire, ending in an Eagle victory, 60-49.
The Eagles and fans continued with the cutting of the nets and collecting of the Sectional trophy, and a stamped ticket to the Regional #15 at Franklin Community High School, to face the 14-9 Morristown Yellow Jackets.

Championship game scoring
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles - 60
Justin Huff 17
Tucker Brown 17
Brandon Gehl 10
Blake Sutton 8
Matt Gehl 7
Daniel Leonetti 1
Non-scoring Eagles: Thomas Wenning, Andrew Wagner, Gerald Hardesty, Tim Arnett, Coty Horn, and Eric Horan.

Mad. Shawe Hilltoppers - 49
Benjamin Murphy 19
Nicholas Hall 9
Todd Ungru 9
Mitch Lauster 6
Jacob Bump 4
Luke Wise 2
Non-scoring Toppers: Andrew Bear, Chase Jones, Peter Bump, Deuce Wall, Nick Torline, and Thomas Barber.
Quarter scores:
1. JCD 16-7 Shawe
2. JCD 27-14 Shawe
3. JCD 44-23 Shawe
4. JCD 60-49 Shawe

Scoring:
Eagles 99-62 Shiners
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles - 99
Matt Gehl 19
Blake Sutton 14
Justin Huff 12
Tucker Brown 11
Daniel Leonetti 9
Andrew Wagner 9
Brandon Gehl 9
Thomas Wenning 8
Coty Horn 8
Non-scoring Eagles: Gerald Hardesty, Tim Arnett, and Eric Horan.

Rising Sun Shiners - 62
Myles Hornsby 15
Logan Jackson 9
Zeph Vaughn 8
Michael Lovern 7
Isaac Crouch 6
Nathan Adams 5
Cory Fogle 4
Tyler Banschbach 4
Jimmy Young 2
Justin Vest 2
Non-scoring Shiners: Aaron Hopkins, Matthew Keith, and Brenden Siekman.
Quarter scores:
1. JCD 20-6 Shiners
2. JCD 41-20 Shiners
3. JCD 66-38 Shiners
4. JCD 99-62 Shiners

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Jac-Cen-Del coaches, teammates and fans were happy to see "Mr. Sectional" step up to the plate and deliver for 17 points in their championship victory over the Madison Shawe Hilltoppers. Huff's flawless shooting included five 3 pointers and a FG. His three point shot from the volleyball service line at the opposite end of the court as quarter one ended brought the house down on the Toppers and gave the Eagles a 16-7 lead going into the second quarter.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO Eagle senior center Tucker Brown poses with fans as a younger sports enthusiast eyes her hero following the Eagles' victory of Sectional #58 at South Decatur High School. Role models are important. The Eagles defeated the Rising Sun Shiners 99-62 on Friday night, March 2, and captured the championship on Saturday, March 3, with an 11 point victory over the Madison Shawe Hilltoppers 60-49. Brown scored 17 in the championship game.