Jet D2-1 Sub-District BB Results
vs. Bruning/Davenport & Shickley, Feb. 23 & 25, 2010

Jets win two, head to District final

Two nail biting finishes resulted in wins last week for the Sterling boy’s basketball team, as they defeating Bruning-Davenport 40-39 in the Class D2-1 Sub-District semifinal and nipped past Shickley in the Sub-District final 42-38.  
The win moves Sterling into the Class D2-1 District final Tuesday against 19-3 Giltner, which upset top seeded Hampton 54-51.
Head Coach Jimmy Motz is happy that his team is moving on in post season play.
“We managed to escape with two wins” said Motz.  “I am happy in the fact that we’re moving on, but it could have been the other way around.  We made some timely free throws and managed to get some key stops on defense when we needed too.”

BRUNING-DAVENPORT
Jake Wirthele made 1 of 2 free throws with :02 left in the game to give the Jets a one point victory.  Sterling trailed 35-34 with 1:09 left in the game when Connor Malone was fouled and converted a three point play.
The Storm answered at the other end with a 2 point shot to tie the game setting up the final possession where Wirthele was fouled on a shot.
The Jets trailed by nine at halftime 21-12, and only shot the ball 4 of 18 the first half.  Sterling outscored Bruning-Davenport 16-4 the 3rd quarter to retake the lead.
Wirthele led the Jets with 14 points and six rebounds, while Zach Lempka and Klay Heusman each had eight points.
“Our kids fought back the second half, but we were just slow out of the gate in the first half” said Motz.  “Bruning-Davenport played more physical and got after us.  We got outrebounded in the game, but we made enough plays to win it.”

SHICKLEY
Sterling jumped out to an early 18-6 first quarter lead, but the Longhorns fought back the next two quarters to tie it at 30-30 before Jake Wirthele hit a three point shot at the end of the third quarter to retake the lead at 33-30.
Sterling only managed one fourth quarter field goal, but managed to get two huge defensive stops at the end of the game.  The Jets for the game held Shickley to seven made field goals.
“Our defense won us the game” said Motz.  “We didn’t shoot the ball real well and missed some free throws, but we showed some toughness defensively and took care of business.”
Sterling was 15 of 45 from the field for the game, including 5 of 18 the second half.  
“We’ve had a stretch here in February where offensively we have struggled shooting it” said Motz.  “Sometimes, that’s part of the game.  You have to make up for it in other areas of the game, and we’ve done that.”
Wirthele led the Jets with 18 points, six rebounds and five steals.  Connor Malone added 10 points, four rebounds and four blocked shots in the winning effort and Zach Lempka chipped in nine points and nine rebounds.
In Sterling’s last seven games, six of the games have come down to the final minute.
“We’ve played some tight ball games the last month” Motz said.  “We lost a couple close ones and won a couple close ones.  That will make us battled tested heading into the rest of the season.”

                  1   2    3     4     F
Sterling       5   7   16  12    40
Brun. Dav. 8   13   4   14    39
S- Salberg 5, Wirthele 14, Heusman 8, Malone 5, Lempka 8

Sterling      18   6    9    9    42
Shickley      6  11  13    8    38
S- Salberg 1, Wirthele 18, VanGroningen 2, Malone 10, Lempka 9, J. Parrish 2