Navy blue jerseys flying down the court, a crowd of gold and blue jumping up and down, roaring in unison with every made shot, following every dribble and every sharp pass. This is how the Jesuit Rangers entered the UIL playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, behind a wave of inspired play, especially on defense, and overwhelming school support.
Following a stretch of five wins in six games to close the season, the Rangers Varsity team played its first playoff game of the 2011-12 campaign with a rematch against Garland Lakeview Centennial. The Ranger’s first encounter back in November yielded an easy win, knocking off Lakeview by a score of 80-67.
Although the Rangers had their way back in November, this rematch featured two relatively different teams. When they first played, Jesuit had a whopping 32 point contribution from Senior center David Lacey ’12 en route to defeating the then 0-4 Patriots. Since then, the LCHS Patriots won 17 of their last 27 games, while Jesuit lost their most productive offensive threat, David Lacey, to a season-ending ACL tear.
The two teams met at Plano Senior High School on Tuesday, February 21st to kick off the 2012 UIL Bi-District Playoffs. Instead of seeing the high-scoring offense that most Rangers fans have become accustomed to this season, fans saw a much more defensive-minded Rangers team. In fact, this game marked one of the lowest point totals of the season, second only to their 61-40 loss to Berkner in December. They played great defensively, but their shots were not falling in the first half, explaining the very meager score of 7-2 after one quarter.
The Rangers expanded on this lead in the second quarter, however, scoring ten quick points off steals and
fast breaks. While their tenacious defense held, Berkner still managed to score 11 in the second, narrowing the score to 17-13 at the half. The beginning of the second half saw Berkner begin to pick up their offensive aggression, outscoring the Rangers by 3, and making it a 25-24 Jesuit lead going into the fourth quarter.
Although the Rangers’ shooting had been very cold and inconsistent for most of the night, Coach Hill never doubted his players, putting in more shooters at the start of the fourth, rather than taking them out. One of these key substitutions was senior swingman Reid Leinbaugh ’12, who sparked the Rangers’ offense with his superb three-point shooting. Although he scored only 6 points on the night, Leinbaugh had arguably the two biggest shots of the game, mentally refocusing the Rangers on a game that seemed to be slipping from reach.
Lakeview kept clawing and clawing at the Rangers’ lead, but with the help of Leinbaugh’s outside shooting, junior JD Waggoner’s ’13 rebounding and defensive tenacity, and junior Steven Spieth’s ’13 excellent poise in running the point, the Rangers managed to ward off the Patriots’ fierce comeback. The Rangers finally sealed the win with two huge free throws from team leader, Steven Spieth, free throws that iced the game and sent the Rangers to the second round of the UIL Playoffs.
Following this wire-to-wire win, many Varsity players expressed their excitement for the opportunity to play in the second round of the UIL playoffs, but others were aggravated about the way they played offensively. Junior center Nathan Krog ’13 said they should have “beaten[them]much more easily.”
Varsity Manager Jeff Ackels ’13 expressed the same disappointment in the lack of offensive spark against the Lakeview Centennial Patriots, telling The Roundup sources, “We didn’t play to our normal standards against Lakeview.” Ackels did, however, point out that “in the playoffs, the only important thing is winning, and we won, so that is all that matters.”
In their highly anticipated second playoff game, the Rangers traveled all the way to Waco to play A&M Consolidated High School. In one of the closest games they have played all season long, the Jesuit Rangers came up strong and did not disappoint. Not only did they continue their trend of solid defense, good rebounding, and good execution, keeping the A&M Tigers to 50 points, but also they ran a very effective transition offense, led yet again by junior Steven Spieth ’13.
The team sparked so much optimism and excitement that many fans, including students, made their ways to Waco on Friday, February 24th to see the Rangers do battle against a thoroughly unknown opponent.
One of the more intriguing matchups in UIL postseason play, this game against the Rangers and the Tigers featured two teams with over 25 wins and fewer than 6 losses. The Rangers came into this game with a record of 26-6, while the Tigers, very field-tested in their division this year, came into the matchup at 30-4. Record-wise, A&M Consolidated was the stiffest opponent the Rangers had so far faced this season.
Although the Rangers played one of their gutsiest games, on both sides of the floor, they did not manage to pull off the win in regulation, sending the game into overtime. The Rangers did not let up in overtime, continuing to play with the same defensive tenacity that led them to the second round of the playoffs.
Sadly, however, with time expiring in the extra period, A&M Consolidated sank a game-winning jumper, sending them to the third round of the playoffs and ending Jesuit’s excellent 2011-12 season.
Although many seniors refrained from discussing this gut-wrenching loss, the sadness, the nostalgia is clear. Junior Bryan Stankey ’13 summed it up perfectly when he said, “These guys have played four years of Jesuit basketball for this. To go out like that, so close from victory, is disappointing to say the least.”
Although this means the end for the great Varsity seniors, who played with heart and with fire this season, as well as throughout their Jesuit basketball careers, there is already hope for next year. Manager Ackels cited his excitement “for next season,” and his hope to “see every junior out on the floor next year.” He also alluded to the versatile play and decisive leadership shown by athletes like JD Waggoner on defense and Steven Spieth on offense: “Statistically speaking, Steven was averaging a double, double, and he really stepped up when we needed someone to replace David [Lacey].”
On top of this promising junior class returning next year is a versatile group of JV players, including juniors and sophomores, who may be playing major roles on Varsity next year. Ackels specifically spoke of Sophomore Brock Stepteau ’14, who, according to the team manager, “has the potential to dominate next year.”
Another intriguing name to keep an eye out for is Junior Joseph Udofia ’13, who will look to follow the precedent set forth by his two brothers DJ ’12 and Chris ’10. He has the potential to make a major difference for the Varsity Rangers next year.
Although their season ended in bitter defeat, the Jesuit Rangers not only clinched a number two seed in their division this year, but also came one shot away from advancing to the third round of the UIL playoffs, a third round that has eluded Jesuit basketball in recent years.
On top of these accomplishments, they also managed to finish with a 26-7 record, surpassing nearly all records they have had in the last four years, except their 2009-2010 record, which was also 26-7.
This Jesuit Varsity Rangers Basketball team should not hang its head low, but instead, should acknowledge the fact that it quieted many of the critics who have argued that a Catholic, all-boys, private school cannot compete in a public school league.
More and more, each year, Jesuit basketball continues to prove to all of the doubters that a bunch of Catholic-school kids can, in fact, play ball with just about anybody around.
