Sterling Jets vs. Freeman
February 19, 2010

Last second shot takes down Jets

            Freeman’s Jordan Pella saved his last shot for his biggest shot, hitting a five foot runner as time expired to defeat Sterling last Friday night 42-40 in front of a capacity crowd in the Sterling gym.

            The Falcons, ranked # 1 in Class D-1, had the last possession of the game, after the Jets missed a front end of a one and one.  As time wound down, Kyle Schlake found an open Pella on a cut to the basket for the game winner.

            Sterling took the lead late 40-38 in the fourth quarter after trailing by 10 at half-time after Jake Wirthele converted a three point play with a 1:40 to go. 

            It was a tale of two halves for the Jets, as Sterling shot the ball 2 of 24 the first half.  For the second half, Sterling was 12 of 18 from the field, including four three point field goals, three by Klay Heusman.

            Head Coach Jimmy Motz said the second quarter and Freeman’s ability to answer in the second half was the difference.

            “It makes it tough when you can’t score” said Motz.  “Our defensive effort was great all four quarters.  I thought our big guys defended very well with their size, but we just couldn’t put one in the basket.”

            “The second half we shot it well, but it seemed like we cut the margin to two or three, they would answer at their end.  Plus, we had some chances at the foul line and didn’t convert those.”

            One key Motz notes was second chance points.  Freeman had 14 second chance points to Sterling’s two.

            “They make you pay because of their length and physicalness” says Motz.

            Heusman and senior Zach Lempka led the Jets with 11 points apiece, while Wirthele pitched in 10 points.  Wirthele also had 9 rebounds and 3 steals, and Lempka added 7 rebounds. 

            “I was very proud of how our kids fought back and gave themselves a chance to win it.  We weren’t very good offensively the first half, but the second half I felt was one of our best offensive efforts of the year” said Motz.

            Next up for Sterling is district play this week in Fairbury.  The Jets are the defending Class D-2 state champions.

            “It’s one of the toughest districts in the state” Motz said.  “We’ll have to be ready to play.”

               1    2     3     4     F

Sterling    6    0   19   15   40

Freeman  8    8   11   15   42

S- Salberg 2, Wirthele 10, Heusman 11, Malone 6, Lempka 11