Jimtown High School

Jimmies can’t match Marian’s defense, length By Red Williams Freelance Sportswriter MISHAWAKA - The Good Book says, “If you live by the sword, you shall die by the sword.” Jimtown’s Jimmies erupted for five three-pointers in the first period Tuesday night (2.10.26) to send the host Knights of Mishawaka Marian scuttling for cover in high school basketball. But it was a trey from the corner by Marian’s Eric Unwin with 2:35 left in the game that rang the death knoll for the Jimmies. It was an exciting non-conference game played before an enthusiastic crowd of several hundred with the Knights wearing the victor’s crown, 61-54. Marian is now 11-6, and the Jimmies sport the same record, and hope to bounce back in Friday’s visit (2.13.26) to Bremen. This is an important contest in the Indiana Northern State Conference, with the championship on the line. Both teams are unbeaten. “That three from the corner was a big key,” said Marian coach Robb Berger. “It created some space and gave us a little room to work.” Unwin’s basket broke a 52-52 tie, and was followed by four-of-four from the free-throw line that iced the game for Marian. The Jimmies only scored one more basket, that a short jumper in the lane by Will Spurgeon. Jimtown’s great opening (it led by six after the first period, 23-17) was followed by a dismal second quarter when the Jimmies scored just four points. It was then that Marian switched into a man-to-man defense. “We seldom use a ‘man,’” Berger said. “I’m happy with the way that worked out.” Jimtown coach Ryan Varga was not so happy: “That second quarter really hurt. We were not in sync, and that man-to-man caught us off-guard. Our shot selection was off, and we went into panic mode.” The Jimmies also struggled against Marian’s “big,” 6-foot-9 Prescott Horvath, who ruled the paint most of the night. He scored 20 points, all around the rim, while teammate Andre Wells led all scorers with 21. The Jimmies had good scoring balance: Zander Whitaker topped them with 15 and Jackson Woolwine and Spurgeon each had a dozen. Their effort was hurt by the absence of Dom Fey, who watched from the bench with a sore knee. Action at the charity stripe also hurt the Boys of Baugo (3-of-6), while the Knights cashed in on 15 of 18. Marian’s junior varsity rode a strong fourth-period effort to break open a close game against the Jimmies, coming out on top, 58-38. Score by quarters: Jimtown 23 4 17 10 54 Marian 17 13 16 15 61