Moran can't save Jacobs

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COMMENTARY

For four years, John Moran did anything and everything to elevate Jacobs' boys basketball program to a higher level.

That's what makes Tuesday's outcome so heartbreaking.

After tallying 15 points in the first half, the Golden Eagles' all-time leading scorer's career total stood at 1,918 points. That's where Moran's total will remain after being held scoreless in the second half of his team's 66-63 loss to Rockford Boylan in the Class 4A Jacobs Sectional semifinals.

Facing a stifling box-and-one defense led by Boylan's Michael Edwards, Moran struggled to even get his hands on the ball in the crucial final two quarters. When he did manage to gain possession, he couldn't connect.

Moran committed three turnovers in the second half and missed both of his shots, including a potential game-tying three-point attempt with four seconds left on the game's final possession. He also missed the front end of a one-and-one with his team ahead by five with 2:41 remaining.

"We all wanted this, but if anyone deserved it, it would have been Johnny," Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said. "He was a part of all the wins, and I'm sure he accepts his part in the loss."

In all fairness, Moran was far from the only reason for the Eagles' demise. In fact, it appeared Zack Peterson, Conrad Krutwig and the rest of his teammates would be able to fend off Boylan's comeback attempt.

However, when the greatest player to ever wear a Jacobs uniform is unable to tally a point in crunch time, that's bound to be remembered as one of the big reasons the Eagles let a 17-point, first-half lead slip away.

Moran played the biggest role in helping Jacobs enjoy a stellar 52-5 record the past two seasons, but on Tuesday it was Edwards who played the biggest role in dashing the Golden Eagles' dream of becoming the first Fox Valley Conference team to advance Downstate.

Not only did Edwards provide the suffocating defense on Moran, but he also drilled the three-pointer with 1:54 left that tied the game for the first time since the game's opening minute.

"Mike Edwards does a tremendous job," Boylan coach Steve Goers said. "With our schedule the last two years he's guarded some of the best kids in the state. So it was just another game for [Edwards]. He gives himself up on offense a little bit when he does this, but then he hits a big three there at the end."

Added Moran: "They went to a box-and-one, and [Edwards] was face guarding me the whole time and I couldn't get any open shots and I could only barely get the ball. That's probably the best defender I've played against."

While all the Eagles were heartbroken, there's little doubt Moran's ultra-competitive spirit hurt the most.

He'll likely replay his missed free-throw attempt and the entire second half in his head for quite some time.

"We had our opportunities to put the game away," Moran said. "That makes it even worse because we could have put it away, and now we're going home."

Nonetheless, the final half of Moran's playing career will do little to diminish his vast accomplishments.

Jacobs junior Tim Moran had the right idea when he predicted even bigger and better things from his older brother in the years to come when he suits up for Northern Iowa.

"You can't picture a better teammate than Johnny," Tim Moran said. "I'm think everyone in this whole school just wishes him the best of luck. He's going to have a great career at Northern Iowa, that's for sure."

Speaking in a barely audible tone, a hoarse Hinkle seconded those thoughts.

"I've been coaching since '64, and I've had one Johnny Moran," Hinkle said. "I'd say I'm not going to have any others."