Jacobs can’t slow down Jett and McHenry in the FVC opener

If his play continues to have his teammates jumping off the bench with excitement, McHenry senior guard Caleb Jett may have to continue starting games sitting down.

The 6-foot-2 Jett started all three games at the Hoops for Healing tournament in Woodstock last week, helping the Warriors win the title, but on Wednesday night against Jacobs the veteran found himself in the sixth man role. He responded with a game- and season-high 23 points, leading McHenry to a 64-52 victory in the Fox Valley Conference opener.

“We rotate kids,” Warriors coach Corky Card said. “We try to give everyone a (starting) spot here and there.”

“I don’t mind,” said a smiling Jett, who was a starter for most of last season. “It’s all good. … I respect everything the coaches have to say about it.”

McHenry (4-0) used full-court pressure defense early in its home opener to build a 17-7 lead in the first quarter and led for most of the evening. But Jacobs (3-1), which won the Lakes Tournament last week, got within 45-41 late in the third period when Ben Jurzak, who had trouble shooting the ball all night, drained a three-pointer the left corner was destroyed.

Jett drained two free throws to give McHenry a 46-41 lead in the fourth period and then took over. When he hit a three-pointer from the left wing with 4:26 left to extend the lead to 59-44, he clapped his hands together enthusiastically as he rushed to the other end of the court.

McHenry’s bench – and his fans – exploded.

Jett scored 10 points in the fourth period to help clinch the game. He also had six rebounds, three of which came on offense.

“I read the defense, read what they wanted to do,” Jett said. “I felt good when I came in.”

“He did a good job in the end,” Card said. “Tonight was probably as good as I’ve ever seen him rebounding off the field on offense.”

Jurzak scored 80 points in three games, including 38 in Jacobs’ season opener, to earn all-tournament honors at Lakes, but he didn’t make a shot from the floor until his third shot in the third quarter.

He was 1 of 16 from distance and finished with seven points.

“We tried to break the press and I got my look,” Jurzak said. “My teammates did a good job finding me. My shots just weren’t falling, so I had to do what I could to contribute to the win in other ways. It just wasn’t my game shooting-wise.”

Emaan Thomas scored a team-high 13 points (three three-pointers) for Jacobs. Samson Averehi had 12 points and nine rebounds, Carson Goehring came off the bench to add eight points and eight rebounds, and Nolan Roper had nine points. Jurzak had two points at halftime, but Jacobs only trailed 31-27.

“We fought some tough battles,” Golden Eagles coach Jimmy Roberts said. “We got to the finish line a lot in the first half (but went 4 out of 9) so we’re tracking that and obviously our guy (Jurzak), who has already led us to three wins, wasn’t making any shots. It’s difficult.”

McHenry had even scoring as four players scored in double figures. Adam Anwar scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half and ended his night with a two-handed dunk late. He also had eight rebounds. Conner McLean (eight rebounds) and Dylan Hurckes each scored 11 points.

“We just focused on playing for each other and the guy next to us,” Jett said. “We’re a big team and we’re doing pretty well. We’re rolling.”

Patrick Kunzer for Shaw LocalMcHenry’s Marko Stojich, left, tries to grab the ball from Jacobs’ Connor Goehring in varsity basketball action at McHenry High School in McHenry on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024.
Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local

Patrick Kunzer for Shaw LocalJacobs’ Emaan Thomas drives the ball in varsity basketball at McHenry High School on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in McHenry.
Patrick Kunzer for Shaw Local