'We just held our composure': Jackson holds off big Dover comeback, reaches district final
EUCLID — Thursday's taste of March Madness was real for the Jackson boys basketball team.
When things got hairy in their Division I district semifinal against Dover, all the Polar Bears needed was poise and a dose of Kyle Monterrubio. Both can be a big difference when it's win or go home.
Monterrubio's biggest basket of the night helped Jackson stave off a huge Dover comeback in a 63-56 win over the Tornadoes at Euclid High School. The Polar Bears will face Mentor in Saturday's district final, which has been pushed back to 6 p.m. so it doesn't conflict with the Jackson girls' regional final in Sandusky.
Leads are never safe in the postseason, especially when two really good teams clash. The Polar Bears were reminded of that Thursday.
Jackson led by 19 at one point in the third quarter. In what felt like a split second, the Polar Bears' lead shrunk to 58-56 when Tornadoes guard Carter Grove hit a 3 with 1:39 left.
Enter Monterrubio. Outside of a wide-open layup, the only Polar Bear taking a shot was going to be the 6-foot-3 junior in the post.
Monterrubio's reverse layup with 52 seconds left was a backbreaker for the Tornadoes. They never scored again.
"When they give me the ball in there, I can go score or find my teammates open," Monterrubio said. "When I get the ball, good things will happen."
Monterrubio scored 16 points to help lead the Polar Bears (21-4), who have won 13 straight and 18 of their last 19. He also had a key offensive rebound that led to two free throws in the final two minutes.
The reverse layup steadied the ship.
"We said to make sure to get the ball into Kyle," Jackson head coach Tim Debevec said. "He's going to get fouled or we're going to have a layup."
Cam Weekley also scored 16 points for the Polar Bears. Cole Baker finished with 13 points, with two coming on a putback in the fourth quarter. Mitch Finefrock hit four 3s for 12 points. Anthony Fuline made a key defensive rebound in the waning seconds and hit a free throw to give Jackson some separation.
The victory came in the Polar Bears' most challenging game of the postseason. They won their sectional games over Garrett Morgan and Ellet by 45 and 30 points, respectively.
Dover (20-4), led by Hall of Fame coach Bob Von Kaenel, was never going to be a pushover. Tommy Coletti scored 11 of his game-high 25 points in the first quarter alone. He and Grove led the comeback. Grove scored all 16 of his points in the second half.
"They have six seniors who have been playing together since third grade," Debevec said. "That's a good team we played. When you get to the district semifinals, you're going to play good teams."
The Polar Bears, a good team in their own right, never caved in the face of their first threat in the postseason.
"We just held our composure," Monterrubio said.
Successfully overcoming their first challenge should help prepare for another big challenge that lies ahead.
Mentor (18-7) erupted for more than 100 points in each of their two sectional games and, like Jackson, won both convincingly. The Cardinals eliminated Federal League co-champion Green in the other district semifinal.
"This is a good wake-up call, knowing that no game is a pushover," Monterrubio said. "Mentor is going to be good. I think we'll be more prepared for it after this game."
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Kyle Monterrubio helps Jackson basketball reach OHSAA district final
