Sterling Jets defeat Meridian & SE Consolidated
February 7 & 8, 2008
By Jimmy Motz
February 09, 2008
JETS BREEZE PAST MERIDIAN, SOUTHEAST CONSOLIDATED
The Sterling boys basketball team notched two wins last week, defeating Meridian 68-41 and going on the road and blitzing Southeast Consolidated 88-30. With the two wins, the Jets improved to 14-6 on the season. Head coach Jimmy Motz was happy with the performance for the week. "We had a good week, considering we only could practice one day” said Motz. “I felt we needed to work on some things before we entered the Meridian game, but we were able to get some of the kinks out and played really well. Our effort both nights was great and we got some kids some minutes which we haven’t really been able to do.”
MERIDIAN Feb. 7, 2008
Zach Lempka scored a season high 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the win. Lempka scored 14 points in each half. Junior William Wirthele scored 10 points also for the Jets. Sterling jumped out to an early 12-2 lead on baskets from Jake Saathoff, Lempka, and Brandon Nieveen. The Jets led 19-8 after the first quarter, and 30-18 at halftime.
In the second half, Sterling took over. The Jet defense held the Mustangs scoreless for the first 6 ½ minutes of the third quarter. Lempka scored 12 of his 28 points in the third quarter, in less than two minutes. “Zach decided to go on a run of his own” Motz said. “He scored 10 or 12 quick points in no time. They couldn’t get the ball past him on the press. I guess when your active on the ball like him and try to throw over him, he’s going to get his mitts on a few of them. It was pretty unreal he scored that many points in that short amount of time.”
Holding a 31 point lead heading into the fourth quarter, the Mustangs outscored the Jets 21-17 in the final frame. Motz said his team was back to playing tough nosed basketball. “We went away from the things that helped us win games early on in the season. I felt we got relaxed and complacent a week ago in the Pioneer and relied on shooting jump shots, rather than guarding and diving on the floor. We got back to that against Meridian and I was real proud of the boys.”
Sterling 19 11 21 17 68
Meridian 8 10 2 21 41
S- Salberg 2, J. Wirthele 2, Nieveen 2, Saathoff 6, W. Wirthele 10, D. Heusman 4, Lowmack 4, Lempka 28, Dreeson 2, Thiel 4, Boyer-Sears 1, Hunt 3
M- A. Rohr 4, Jordening 3, Heiserman 8, Van Weston 13, Knudson 4, D. Rohr 3, Aude 6
SE CONSOLIDATED Feb. 8, 2008
Sterling struggled early on in the first quarter, but a 25-2 run to end the quarter put the game out of hand. William Wirthele led the Jets with 20 points, one of four players in double figures. Zach Lempka pitched in 12 points, while Jake Saathoff and Jake Wirthele each scored 10.
The Jets led 52-16 at halftime. Sterling had its high scoring half of the year in the contest, and highest scoring output for the season, scoring 88 points in the game. The Mustangs couldn’t get anything going against the Jets, committing 51 turnovers in the game. Southeast had more turnovers than shots attempted in the game. “When you force that many turnovers, good things happen” said Motz. “Our pressure gave them fits, and we shot layups most of the night. With that, we got some guys some playing time too.”
Motz was pleased with the performances of Devin Heusman and Kyle Lowmack. The two reserve guards combined for 17 points in the game. “Devin and Kyle lifted us and gave us a spark off the bench. They provided energy, handled the ball, and hit some shots for us. Both of them had good weeks.” Sterling led 71-24 after three quarters. All but three players scored for Sterling in the game.
Sterling 28 24 19 17 88
SE Cons. 7 9 8 6 30
S- J. Wirthele 10, Nieveen 4, Saathoff 10, W. Wirthele 20, D. Heusman 8, Lowmack 9, Lempka 12, Dreeson 2, Thiel 6, Magill 3, Boyer-Sears 3, Hunt 2
SE- Herr 2, Henderson 1, Watkins 1, T. Huey 11, Joy 1, S. Huey 7, Mayfield 4, Meyerkorth 3
Sterling returns to action when Freeman comes to town Friday night. Game time is set for 8pm from the Sterling gym. Motz thinks it will be a fun environment.
“We should have a great crowd. Both teams have had good seasons to this point and it should be a competitive game. Our community I know is excited about the game and it should make for a fun environment.”
