In the second game of Sectional 19, Jimtown and John Glenn played a game in a six-point window from start to finish. There were many twists and turns, but the Jimmies won 53-50 in overtime.
Early on, it looked like Jimtown was going to have problems scoring on John Glenn. The Jimmies had three turnovers in the opening minutes. On the other end, Robby Porter put John Glenn on the board with three-pointer. The Falcons had balanced scoring all game and the first four baskets were made by different players.
Each time it looked like Jimtown’s offense was getting on track, turnovers would sabotage the Jimmies. Powered by those turnovers, John Glenn ended the first half on a 10-2 run to lead by two points.
After a pedestrian four points and three rebounds in the opening half, Jimtown star Preston Phillips took his game to a different gear in the second half. The lanky wing was passive in the opening half before taking over the game in the second. He matched his four points and three rebounds in the first two minutes of the second half. After halftime, he looked like the player that has turned the heads of college coaches.
Despite the improved play by Phillips, John Glenn was only down one going to the fourth thanks to the play of Porter. He hit a couple of shots to keep the Falcons above water.
In the fourth, Jimtown’s lead stretched to five points as Brayden Rice scored to make it 37-32. The Jimmies were up four with 2:24 left in the game when another turnover bite them. John Glenn capitalized with a three-pointer from Carter Yung.
After Phillips converted two free throws and Brycen Hannah scored off an out of bounds play, Rice found himself at the line for Jimtown. He made both free throws with 10 seconds left to make it a three-point game once again. With no timeout, John Glenn advanced the ball up the court before Porter hit Hannah at the top of the key, and the Glenn freshman buried the triple to tie the game.
Jimtown quickly called a timeout with 1.5 seconds left. The Jimmies were able to hit Phillips on a play similar to the Grant Hill pass to Christian Laettner when Duke beat Kentucky in the 1990s. Phillips had a decent look, but it was off the mark.
In overtime, Yung hit a three to put John Glenn in the lead. Half a minute later, the Falcons were up four points as Silas Kaser made both of his free throws. It was desperation time for Jimtown, and Clay Campbell delivered for the Jimmies. Campbell knocked down a three to bright the Jimmies within one.
As John Glenn tried to bring the ball up the court, a Falcons player lost the handle and the ball went out of bounds back to Jimtown. Down one, Jimtown let Phillips do the rest. He tried to attack, but the John Glenn defense was good. Phillips pivoted in the lane before putting up a shot. It was off the mark, but he was all alone for the putback. Jimtown was up one with five seconds remaining.
Phillips capped the game with a steal and dunk at the buzzer as Jimtown won 53-50.
Preston Phillips finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks, three assists, and two steals. Brayden Rice added 15 points in the win. Bill Pawlak chipped in seven. Clay Campbell had an important six points and seven rebounds.
Carter Yung led John Glenn with 15 points. Robby Porter added 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Silas Kaser, Brycen Hannah, and Khori Barker each had seven points. Kaser also had five assists.
Jimtown advanced to play South Bend Clay in the Sectional 19 semifinal.