Jonathan Alder’s Jacob Koenig hits a basket in this file photo. Koenig helped the Pioneers beat Licking Valley in their Division II tournament opener on Monday.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Jackson Izzard scored 18 points and led three Jonathan Alder players in double figures during Monday’s 63-36 Division II tournament victory over Licking Valley.
Izzard was joined by Henry Walker with 13 and Jackie Santa-Emma with 12.
No. 2 seed Alder (17-6) jumped out to a 17-7 lead by the end of the opening period.
The Pioneers kept up the pressure against Licking Valley (seeded 16th) and held a 32-20 margin by halftime.
The Panthers came up against a strong JA defense during the third set and finished with only six points during the eight-minute stretch.
The Pioneers grabbed a 50-26 margin by the end of the stanza and coasted to victory.
“We played well and shut them down during the second half,” said JA head coach Brent Cahill.
“We were also very effecient from the field (hitting 56 percent) and we outrebounded them by 11 or 12,” he said. “That’s huge for us.”
Santa-Emma, along with his 12 points, finished with eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals.
“Jackie was our igniter,” said Cahill.
Izzard had seven boards to go along with his 18 markers.
The Pioneers will play for a sectional championship at home, 7 p.m., on Saturday against No. 14 Buckeye Valley, an old rival from the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.
Jonathan Alder
Izzard 6-3-18, Walker 6-1-13, Santa-Emma 5-2-12, Koenig 3-0-7, Heinig 2-0-4, Stevens 2-0-4, Heimlich 1-0-3, Begin 1-0-2. Totals 26-6-63.
Three-point goals: Izzard 3, Koenig 1, Heimlich 1.
Licking Valley
Whisner 4-0-9, Nethers 2-3-7, Conley 2-2-6, Currey 2-0-6, Thomas 1-1-3, Sipos 1-1-3, Schneider 1-0-2. Totals 13-7-36.
Three-point goals: Currey 2, Whisner 1.