SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- - Conor McCaffrey scored 27 points, Jace Easley added 25 and Our Savior's beat New Berlin 65-50 on Thursday in a key CIL Conference matchup.
Easley also had 12 rebounds and 12 assists for only his third triple-double in his career. McCaffrey grabbed 14 rebounds and recorded his 14th double-double in 15 games for Our Savior's (13-5, 9-3).
“Conor and Jace both had a great night, as the stats show,” said Our Savior's coach Phillip Heppe. “They were both so efficient, too.”
Gannon Dodd scored 19 points and Lucas Bixby added 11 for New Berlin (14-6, 8-5).
Our Savior's outrebounded the Pretzels 46-18. The Eagles shot 54% from the field to New Berlin's 41%.
“The way we had shot it offensively, we almost had to pitch a perfect game defensively,” New Berlin coach Greg Allen said.
Our Savior's continued to struggle with turnovers, as it has all season, committing 18 to New Berlin's 11. But the Pretzels had trouble converting the turnovers to points.
Our Savior's led by as many as 13 points in the first half and controlled both ends of the court. McCaffrey had 12 points and 10 rebounds by halftime.
“We got off to a pretty solid start,” Heppe said. “We challenged everything and we had hands in their faces all afternoon. I'm pleased, because (New Berlin is) as sound and solid as can be. They are a good team.”
DYNAMIC DUO
McCaffrey and Easley were as good as advertised against New Berlin. Generally, they both have good games in each Our Savior's victory. When they both play well, it's usually trouble for the opponent.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt (McCaffrey) and Jace by far and away are the two best players on the floor,” Allen said. "That’s not a shock. We thought that coming in that those guys were going to be a handful. And they were.”
Helpe couldn't say enough about his two star players.
“When we got them, we knew we were getting two young men with great character,” Heppe said. “Both are very, very intelligent and both understand how to make the other one a better player on the court.”
TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Easley's triple-double was the first by an Eagles player since Conor McCaffrey earlier on this season. It was the 11th triple-double in LSA basketball this season.
“It's really hard to get a triple-double,” McCaffrey said. “I asked to come back in the game (with less than two minutes left) just so I could give Jace his respect.”
Allen agreed. “These two guys are at another level. Jace and Conor are some of thr best guards in the country.”
Perhaps the best part of Easley's feat was that he called it before the game.
“I was shooting around with Lucas (Schmidt) and told him to watch out because I was going to get a triple-double,” Easley said. “I mean, I was just talking. But, hey, I got it. It's hard to do at this level. I just give all credit to the Lord.”
BIG PICTURE
Our Savior's was able to play its customary up-tempo game against a New Berlin team known for holding the ball and working the shot clock. It was the ability to run that allowed Our Savior's to control the game from the opening tip.
UP NEXT
New Berlin : Plays at Athens on Tuesday.
Our Savior's : Was scheduled to play Christ Lutheran In a much-anticipated battle for the conference lead on Thesday, but the game was postponed due to Influenza protocols with the Comets. Our Savior's is not scheduled to play again until it hosts Concordia Peoria on Feb. 16.