June 1st, 2019 By Mark Peters Chicago Sun Times Columnist

SPRINGFIELD — In the second game of Saturday’s tripleheader, Our Savior’s Springfield proved just how wide the gap can be between contenders and rebuilding programs.

Fueled by an onslaught of ball movement, suffocating defense, and a team-wide commitment to unselfish play, O.S. Springfield obliterated Salem Jacksonville, 92–22, in a game that was all but decided by the opening minutes. It was one of the most comprehensive team victories witnessed by longtime LSA observers in early June action.

“That wasn’t about a couple of guys. That was about twelve,” Coach Phillip Heppe said. “Everyone touched the ball. Everyone contributed. That’s what we’re building — not a team around one star, but a team full of weapons.”

The Eagles jumped out to a 44–13 halftime lead, then stepped on the gas in the second, outscoring Salem 48–9 over the final 18 minutes. They held Salem Jacksonville to just 22 points, forcing 29 turnovers and limiting them to a paltry 2-of-7 from the free-throw line. It was a clinic on both ends of the court.

Offensive Explosion, Defensive Masterpiece
Conor McCaffrey followed up his 37-point outburst earlier in the day with a more balanced, efficient performance. The LSA All-Time Assist Leader poured in 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, drilling three triples, and tallying 5 assists, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals — all while playing just under 18 minutes.

But what separated this win from others was how many names joined the highlight reel.

Ty Seifert, the wiry sharpshooter, erupted for 15 points, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, showing an outside punch that caught the defense completely off guard. Logan Allen, once again quietly effective, added 12 points, 2 steals, and a game-high +54 plus/minus rating.

Ian Klockenga, who continues to rise as one of the team's most versatile defenders and rebounders, chipped in 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting, with 5 rebounds and an unshakable defensive presence. His on-ball effort and help-side timing remain elite.

Jeremiah Perkins, the anchor in the paint, scored 10 points, pulled down 9 rebounds, dished 5 assists, and recorded 4 steals, further solidifying his role as one of the most complete post players in LSA basketball.

Even Tristyn Carlove, Daniel First, and Lucas Schmitt found themselves in the mix, combining for a dozen points and a bevy of deflections, closeouts, and crisp passes.

Postgame Reactions
“We had 8 guys with 5 or more points and all of them had at least a steal or rebound,” Heppe said. “That tells you we’re not playing for stats — we’re playing for each other.”

McCaffrey, who rarely talks about his own numbers, instead praised Seifert’s energy.
“Ty was on fire,” he said. “He spaces the floor, and when he’s hitting shots, it opens the whole offense up. But we were all flying around. That’s how we want to look.”

Perkins was even more direct: “We can win games with defense alone. That’s what sets us apart. Offense is a bonus.”

A Statement Beyond the Score
Perhaps most impressive was how O.S. Springfield played with intensity even as the score ballooned. There were no highlight-chasing moments. No selfish stat-padding. Just rotations, cuts, contests, and box outs — the kind of effort rarely seen in a 70-point win.

Salem, for their part, was simply overmatched. No player scored more than 5 points, and the team shot under 35% from the field. They were out-rebounded 39–17, out-assisted 26–2, and outworked in nearly every phase.

Box Score Highlights
Conor McCaffrey – 24 pts (10-16 FG), 6 reb, 5 ast, 6 stl

Trey Seifert – 15 pts, 3-4 3PT, 3 reb, 2 stl

Logan Allen – 12 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl (+54)

Jeremiah Perkins – 10 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl

Ian Klockenga – 12 pts (6-6 FG), 5 reb, 0 TO (+50)

Team TO Forced – 29

Team Assists – 26

Final Word from Mark Peters
I’ve watched a lot of early summer basketball. It’s usually messy. Guys trying to find rhythm, chemistry all over the place. This wasn’t that. This was something different. Something calculated. Something surgical.

You want a sign of greatness? Watch how a team behaves when it’s up by 60. The Eagles didn’t gloat. They guarded. That’s culture.

Coach Heppe has something special on his hands — and this was just Day One.