Green Powers Gonzaga to Quarter-Final Victory

Ron Bailey, Publisher

February 26, 2006 – All year, Jacob Green has heard from his coach, Steve Turner, that he needed to use his 6 foot 9 inch frame and the reach it provides to “attack the rim, don’t settle for jump shots”. Yesterday, he did just that, scoring 22 points and nabbing 12 rebounds to lead the Gonzaga Eagles to a 68-64 WCAC quarter-final upset victory over an active, game group of Paul VI Panthers.

Cameron Johnson assisted Green with 16 points, while Carlos Howard scored 9. Jean Cajou led Paul VI with 18 points, and Danny Sumner added 14 for the Panthers.

The play of Green was the difference in the ball game. He displayed drop steps, finished around the tin – including with his off-hand (the left), cleaned the glass continuously, blocked/altered shots, and even threw down a nice alley-oop (with 3:51 left in the fourth quarter).

Turner praised Jacob's play profusely. Earlier the Eagle’s coach told Green “You can shoot your jump shots when you get to West Virginia (his college choice), get your self to the rim”. According to Turner, “Tonight, he did that. He played big. He played like our senior leader”.

The Eagle’s Johnson once again personified versatility, as his input ranged from spinning on the baseline and finishing, or running the pick and roll. On the latter, Turner confided that “They (Paul VI) like to trap a lot. So we put in a little wrinkle where we would use the high screen and slip it”. This tactic was tailor made for Johnson, who his coach believes “does so many things well…when he slips it, he is in attack mode, either he can get to the rim” or hit post players for layups.

Jacob, acknowledged Turner’s exhortations after the game, and commented on his aggressive mindset, at tip-off. “I know that my coach has always wanted me to do that” said Green. “And he always thought I could do that…so I thought with it being the playoffs, why not leave it all on the floor”. That focus of attacking the basket let him to earn seven foul shots in the critical fourth quarter, of which he nailed six.

Paul VI’s Sumner, himself a versatile 6 foot 6 inch swingman bound for William and Mary, characterized the game as “a tough loss” in which the Panthers didn’t come out with enough intensity, in the second half. During the contest, Sumner impacted the game in numeours ways, including shooting from outside, attacking the rim on the break, and playing a key role in Paul VI’s trapping defense schemes.

After sharing his team was taking the loss hard, Sumner indicated they had another opportunity to play, this time in the Virginia Independent School Tournament. Observers can check the Panthers out next weekend.

Conference tournaments are always bittersweet affairs. Winners advance, enjoying the joy of victory, while losers suffer the extra-bitter pill that comes with not only losing, but elimination. Hats off to both Gonzaga (14-15) and Paul VI (22-17). The way they conducted themselves, in winning and defeat, is what high school hoops should really be all about.

Johnson and Cajou

Sumner at the Line