01/18/10 - Joliet Shootout - Providence Catholic
January 26, 2010
Rockets win Thriller at Joliet Shootout,
Austinnails the winner
By Bob Martin
Rock Falls 11 18 19 22 70
Providence 15 14 25 15 69
Joliet Central High School – January 18, 2010
Rock Falls (12-7, 3-2) took another big step towards finding the magic formula for post season success as they fought back from an 11 point deficit in the 4th quarter to put another “W” on the board. It was a game that both teams can look back on and say they did some things to be proud of. For the Providence Catholic Celtics they can point to the 9 point deficit they faced in the 3rd period and then turned this quickly into an 11 point lead. The Rockets can gain confidence from the fact that they made the 4th quarter comeback while remaining calm and committing no turnovers in this last period.
This makes two in a row for the Rockets at the Joliet Shootout. One might conclude that Jake Junis likes going to Joliet Central as last year he astounded the crowd by nailing 6 trifectas in the 1st quarter while scoring the first 20 points for the Rockets. At the end of the 1st period the score was Junis 20 Thornridge 9. The Rockets went on to an easy win, 54-38, and Junis tallied 26 on the day. This year the Rockets controlled the tip, and Junis got the ball and launched it from 25 feet, swished it, and no doubt concluded; yes I like it here (the game was 7 seconds old). On the day, Junis once again tallied 26 points but mixed it up with 4 trifectas, and numerous drives and free throws. The Rockets had a strong trio for the game with Dylan Austin and Matt Lauts each posting 18 points. Tevin Rumley led the team with 7 assists and Shay Brown led with 3 steals.
After Junis made the opening basket, Providence slowly asserted themselves. After a Celtic fieldgoal, Lauts scored on a post move and Providence tied it with a long ball. After Lauts blocked a shot, Brown fed him for a short jumper, countered by a Celtic fieldgoal, but Lauts followed with a putback (9-7, 4:30). With the Rockets turning it over twice, the Celtics scored 8 in a row until Junis concluded the quarter scoring on a drive, assisted by Rumley (11-15).
Providence opened the 2nd quarter with a long ball but the Rockets responded with the next 7 points as JC McNinch made a layup (assist Rumley), Junis a long ball (assist Rumley) and Austin nailed a 15’ jumper (18-18, 6:15). After the Celtics made 3 of 4 tosses from the charity stripe, Junis notched another 3 pointer (assist Rumley) and the score remained knotted. Points were traded the rest of the period with the Rockets scoring when Junis dropped in an 18’ jumper and 3 free throws, Rumley made a free throw, and Brett Chappell dropped a 10’ jumper (29-29 halftime).
In the 3rd quarter, the Rockets turned up the defensive pressure by double teaming at the guard position. This caused the Celtics to lose their composure for a few minutes, allowing the Rockets to capitalize. In the first 3 minutes the Rockets outscored Providence 15-6 to move to their largest lead in the game, 9 points. The Rocket scoring sequence was; 3 pointer by Austin (assist Lauts); 3 pointer by Junis (assist Brown); 3 pointer by Austin (assist Brown), a fast break layup by Austin (assist Rumley), and a fast break layup by Brown assisted by Rumley (44-35, 5:12). But then Providence regrouped and went on a 28-8 tear over the next 8 ½ minutes. The Rockets aided their cause by committing 5 errant passes, all in the 3rd period. The Rockets would only score another 4 points in the 3rd period on a Rumley free throw, a power drive by Junis (assist Rumley), and a free throw by Austin (48-54).
The 4th quarter began with the Rockets missing 2 free throws and the Celtics scoring on an old fashioned 3 point play (1 of 4 they accomplished during their run). Lauts converted a one and one, but Providence answered with a 3 pointer. Lauts scored on a putback, but Providence nailed another trifecta (52-63, 4:45) and prospects for the Rockets were not looking good. Lauts who scored 10 of his 18 points in the 4th quarter continued to fight back, scoring on a post move, assisted by Junis, and then Matt stole the ball and scored again on a post move (56-63, 3:50). Providence then made the front end of a one and one, followed by a 15’ jumper by Austin and a field goal by Providence. Then Junis went to work with power drives; he scored was fouled but could not convert. After the Rockets got a stop, Junis drove hard to the basket, scored, was fouled and converted the 3 point play. With Providence in the super bonus, they missed 2 free throws, and Junis fed Austin who scored on a fast break layup (65-66, 2:17). With 49 seconds remaining the Rockets put Providence on the line where they converted both tries. On the Rocket end, they played for an inside basket and Lauts was fouled while shooting. He made both throws (67-68, 0:29). The Rockets fouled immediately and Providence made 1 of 2 and then Rock Falls called time out with 16 ticks left on the clock. The Rockets passed between Rumley and Junis looking for the opportunity to drive but both were well covered, so Junis dished to the wide open Austin who made no mistake, draining the 3 pointer with 7 seconds. Providence advanced the ball and was only able to get off a poor long range shot which fell harmlessly as the buzzer sounded. Rockets win!
Rocket Scorers:
Jake Junis 26
Matt Lauts 18
Dylan Austin 18
Tevin Rumley 2
Shay Brown 2
Brett Chappell 2
JC McNinch 2
Next Up:
Jan 22: Home against Kewanee (girls/boys)
Jan 29: Home against Princeton
Jan 30: Home against Rockford Lutheran
