Loeffler's Link

Jan. 15, 2019

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- It's that time of year when we're stuck with the post-holiday blues, we're mired in the doldrums of a long, cold, lonely winter.

Remember when we actually used to like snow?

High school basketball is in it's Dog Days, especially when you're not in a conference. So when two teams hovering around .500 play a non-conference game on a Tuesday night in the middle of January, well ... blah.

Unless it's this game.

It's a great way to forget your blahs and blues, if only for an evening, when the Jefferson City Jays clash with the Helias Crusaders in the Capital City Crosstown Showdown. It seldom disappoints ... and this was no different.

In the usual highly-intense battle --- and in another-down-to-the-final-buzzer thriller --- the Crusaders outlasted the Jays 58-55 on Tuesday night before an overflow crowd at Rackers Fieldhouse, winning for the 11th time in the last 13 meetings between the rivals.

It might be one-sided in recent years, but still ... what a wonderful passion play in Nikes.

For Joe Rothweiler, it was his first experience as head coach of the Crusaders, although he'd been through the battles the last 10 years as Josh Buffington's top assistant.

"I've been a part of it for a while now," Rothweiler said, "but you move over one seat and it's a little more nerve-wracking. You have no idea if certain guys are going to step up, or if certain guys are going to be scared of the moment.

"But I thought all our guys did a great job of stepping up, especially in the fourth quarter."

The first half featured only two lead changes, but it was tied six times. In other words, this affair was tighter than your best friend's wallet.

Helias (8-6) --- which won it's sixth straight --- scored the final five points of the first quarter, the last of those coming on a 3-pointer by Isaac Johnson at the buzzer, to take a 14-9 lead after one. The lead grew to 16-9 when senior Ben Cooper, who led all scorers with 18 points, hit two free throws early in the second.

The Jays (8-8) promptly rattled off the next seven points, a run started on a 3-ball Sterling DeSha, to pull even midway through the frame, before the Crusaders took a 22-20 lead at the break.

"It changes so fast throughout the course of the game, the different swings with the crowd," Rothweiler said. "Our guys had to really stick together in a game like this, because they can't hear us from the sidelines because it's so loud."

The Jays took lead at 34-33 late in the third --- that was their first lead since 4-2 --- before the Crusaders took a 35-34 edge into the fourth. Helias then put together an 8-0 run to move the margin to 49-40 midway through the fourth.

Safe? You must be new to this.

The Jays answered with a 9-2 run to get within 51-49 with 90 seconds left, and they'd get within two three more times down the stretch.

"I knew it wasn't over," Rothweiler said, "because you know that no lead is comfortable down the stretch in this game."

Numerous factors played a part in the outcome, but none were bigger than free throws in the fourth. The Jays were 2-of-6 from the line, including misses on the front end of two one-and-ones, while the Crusaders were 9-of-10 in the final 2 1/2 minutes.

"I'm super proud of our guys, they stepped up to the moment," Rothweiler said. "We even had a freshman (Malcolm Davis) hit four big ones for us --- and that's not the first time he's done that in the fourth quarter."

The one miss by Nick Brandt, however, came with 5 seconds left and the margin sitting at 58-55. The Jays got the rebound and zipped the ball in downcourt, and DeSha had a good look at a 3 at the buzzer. But the ball bounded off the front of the rim to end it.

Time to celebrate ... or drop your head in your hands.

Brandt added 15 points for the Crusaders and Jake VanLoo had 11, while Brennan Jeffries led the Jays with 16 points. Jeffries scored 11 of his points in the second half as did Ben Folz, who finished 13. Michael Appiah-Brefo added 12 points in the losing cause.

The Capital City Rivalry has been a one-time only affair --- unless the teams met in the Machens Great 8 Classic --- for 30 years. But finally, it's going back to a home-and-home season series, with the Jays hosting the Crusaders on Feb. 12 at Fleming Fieldhouse.

Speaking for all of us, here's a message to the schedule makers.

Thank you.

Passion play in Nikes: Crusaders

outlast Jays in crosstown clash

Another overflow crowd was on hand when the Jefferson City Jays battled the Helias Crusaders on Tuesday night at Rackers Fieldhouse.