McDonald’s momentum bests J-Milton

February 4, 2012 at 12:02a.m.

By LOWELL SPENCER

NORTH JACKSON

The McDonald High boys basketball team ruined the party at Jackson-Milton’s Senior Night.

The Blue Devils jumped out to an early lead and then rode that momentum for a 48-38 victory. The win puts the Blue Devils (8-6, 7-4 Inter Tri-County League Tier Two) just a half-game behind the league-leading Bluejays (10-7, 8-4).

Sophomore Matt Seitz led the Blue Devils with 16 points, scoring nine in the first half to help propel the Devils to an early 13-point lead.

“We were talking in the locker room,and Austin Bucan just said, ‘focus, bring up the intensity, and we’ll win.’ We had the momentum, the whole game,” Seitz said.

Stephen Politano, who chipped in 15 points including five of eight free throws in the final minutes, echoed Seitz’s remarks about how the Blue Devils’ senior had lifted the team.

“I think Austin helped us a great amount tonight,” Politano said. “He helped us get the energy level and intensity that we needed, and I think that he really lifted us up to make this an important game — definitely senior leadership.”

The Bluejays kept battling back, cutting the Blue Devils lead to just five at halftime, 20-15. However, McDonald stretched out their advantage to 13-points again in the third quarter at 30-17, then converted 14-of-17 free throws to close out any hopes for a Bluejay comeback.

“I think with the Senior Night, the kids were pretty emotional, and knowing it was the last game [at home], I think they were a little amped up,” Bluejays Coach Joe Bornemiss said.

“I give credit to McDonald — they have improved since the first time we played against them,” Bornemiss said.

McDonald head coach Brian Higgins said, “We’re a young team, we struggled early. We’ve won five of our last six, so I think our kids are starting to get it.

“We have a real proud tradition at McDonald, so it was tough on us to take those early losses, hopefully we will be able to continue this run,” Higgins said.

Despite playing most of the game with four fouls, the Bluejays’ Zach Nagy turned in a gutsy performance, leading his team with 18 points.

“Zach got into foul trouble early,” Bornemiss said. “That really changed part of the tempo of the game.”

The Blue Devils all agreed — this was a statement game and a signature win.

“It was the biggest game of the year in the league,” Seitz said.