January 26, 2002 1:09 AM
Alleman pulls off win over Rocky
By Tom Johnston, Dispatch/Argus The game may not have been in their house, but
the Alleman Pioneers boys' basketball team got the home-court breaks Friday night at
Wharton Field House. Those led to Alleman's 51-47 Western Big 6 Conference victory over
cross-town rival Rock Island.
After an 0-fer first quarter from the field, the Pioneers battled back behind solid
play from guards Chris Morlok (17 points, five rebounds, three steals) and Ryan McCracken
(16 points, four rebounds).
Then Jeff Jacobs put the finishing touches on the victory. His two free throws with 8.7
seconds left -- the second that rattled around the rim, settled on the heel for a split
second and finally fell through -- gave the Pioneers the margin of victory.
``I was just concentrating on making the (second) shot. I knew how big it was,'' Jacobs
said of the free throws around a Rocky timeout and Alleman nursing a 49-47 lead. ``I was
just praying to God, and I think someone was on my side.''
``I couldn't believe that last free throw went in. I told him he had an angel on his
shoulder,'' said Alleman coach Larry Schulte, suffering from an illness and barely able to
enjoy the victory that moved his club to 8-11, 2-5.
The Pioneers also had some good fortune late on the defensive end. In the final minute,
Alleman missed 4-of-6 free throws around a 3-pointer by Rocky's Jeff Banks that left the
Pioneers up 49-47.
The Rocks (9-7, 3-3 WB6) got the ball to senior Munchie Muskeyvalley. But the usually
sure-handed guard committed two turnovers in the final 20 seconds. The Rocks had 18
turnovers.
Appropriately, Jacobs nabbed the second turnover, helping the Pioneers snap their
three-game losing streak.
``We had a couple of good possessions where we spread it out along the baseline and let
Munchie create and then dish it off or kick it,'' said Rocky coach Thom Sigel.
``Unfortunately, the next couple of times we went to it, it didn't work out.''
Making plays was asking a lot for both teams. Alleman was 0-for-12 from the field in
the first quarter, but only trailed 7-4. The Pioneers managed to shake that off thanks to
Morlok and McCracken, who were praised by Schulte.
They were 9-of-18 shooting and helped the Pioneers salvage a 15-of-39 night from the
field. They handled the ball much better, too. After five first-quarter turnovers, Alleman
had six more in the final three frames.
The Rocks, who host Peoria Central tonight, were playing without Mike Brozovich and
Bryan Madison who left the team earlier in the week and also Marcus McQueen, lost late
this week to an ineligibility.
``I don't think we have any excuses other than we didn't do what it took,'' said Sigel.
``Alleman made the plays to do what it took to win.''
RI sophs explode: Rock Island tied a season high for points in its 93-61
preliminary victory Friday that moved the Rocks to 15-1 and 6-0 in the league. With 19
points, Dail Rice led four Rocks in double-digit scoring and was backed by 14 from both
A.J. Veasey and Sam Johnson, while Justin Sharp tossed in 10.
Jake Anderson led Alleman with 20 points, converting 16 of 18 free throws. J.T. Vogel
tossed in 16 for the 4-12, 1-6 Pioneers®MDNM¯.
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