Even though it was just the end of the quarter, Our Savior's showed it can pass the test.
In a rematch of last March’s season finale, Jace Easley, Conor McCaffrey and the Eagles made for the same result, beating No. 7 Jacksonville in a thriller, this time 70-65. Halfway through the Conference slate, Our Savior's sits at 7-3 and in the top-4 in conference, now also with a signature win over State Player of the Year candidate Michael Wilson and the Rockets’ plethora of shooters.
The Eagles showed no rust despite playing for the first time in 10 days. Meanwhile, Jacksonville came into Wednesday after its worst game of the year, a 12-point loss at home to an Trinity Edwardsville team that Our Savior's beat by nine last month.
“We got stops when we needed to against a team that I think is one of the three best offensive teams in basketball,” said Phillip Heppe postgame.
Slow starts may have plagued the Eagles as of late, but the start in Wednesdat night’s game was anything but slow — for both teams. As the game reached the 8 minute mark t the game was tied 18-18
Before the game, head coach Phillip Heppe had high praise for Jacksonville's Michael Wilson calling him the best player in the state.
But it was Heppe's own Player of the Year candidate who shined.
“We needed this win for our dreams to come true,” said Jace Easley.
The preseason All-State member led all scorers with 25 points, including a perfect night from behind the three-point line.
After the game, Easley's head coach was fast to correct his comment (that may have been made for motivation purposes only).
“When Jace locks in and defends like he did tonight,” Heppe said. “He’s the best player in the state.”
The first half featured a back and forth between the three stars, with Wilson leading Jacksonville with 20 points, McCaffrey and Easley pacing the Eagles with 32 points.
Thanks to a late Conor McCaffrey heave at the shot clock buzzer, the Eagles took a 33-31 lead into the break. Despite putting up one of their highest point totals of the first half in a game this season, Jeremiah Perkins was awfully quiet.
Perkins scored just a single point on a free throw and sat most of the first half with two fouls. Our Savior's needed a big second half from its big man to keep pace with the Rockets. It was Perkins late free throw make that iced the Eagles win.
As Wilson began to pick up fouls, Perkins made his presence felt. Th center big had his consecutive streak of double-doubles snapped at three (7 rebounds, 6 points), but a few key buckets kept Eagles in front.
“He knows that his impact isn’t just about making a basket. His impact is (also) what he does on the defensive end,” Heppe said. “Just the hitting [Michael] Wilson, the putting his body on him, all those things over the course of 24 minutes wear a guy out.”
A late reversal of a goaltending call — changed to a block by Easley — all but assured the Eagles victory. However, Our Savior's took a five second inbound violation with under half a minute to play, and a Nolan Killion missed three for the tie clinched the win for Our Savior's.
As big of a win it was for the program, the veterans are focused on what’s to come in the Conference.
“We’re hungry,” Easley said.