Jacobs, Sierra Vista slip past Coronado

Gary Jacobs isn't the player most teams try to stop when facing Sierra Vista's boys basketball team.

Given a second chance, Coronado might have changed its defensive plan on Wednesday.

Jacobs, usually no more than the third scoring option for the Mountain Lions, poured in 20 points as Sierra Vista edged the Cougars 64-59 in overtime in the championship game of the Sierra Vista Invitational.

On a team with 20-plus points-per-game scorers Viko Noma'aea and Maiscei Grier, there aren't always enough shots to go around for Jacobs to put up big scoring numbers.

But with the Cougars (9-3) limiting Noma'aea and Grier to a combined 22 points, Jacobs came to the forefront to power the Mountain Lions (9-1).

"I've been trying to convince people that we're not a two-man team," Sierra Vista coach Kent Johnson said. "We have lots of guys who contribute. Gary just played super smart basketball today."

A 6-foot-2-inch senior guard, Jacobs scored 10 points in the second half as Grier and Noma'aea were held to a total of one field goal.

Jacobs often wiggled loose in the paint and converted easy baskets against Coronado's post players as the Cougars challenged Grier and Noma'aea, not letting either get an easy look.

Still, the Mountain Lions had to bounce back after Coronado's Austin Nelson hit a game-tying 3-pointer from the right wing with three seconds left in regulation.

Jacobs and Noma'aea each scored four points in the overtime, and the Mountain Lions closed the game with Xavier Brown and Noma'aea each making two free throws in the final 33 seconds.

Grier finished with 13 points.

Michael Louder led Coronado with 22 points, and Drew Badillo scored 10.

Both teams played their sixth game in three days in the tournament.

"We need lots of games," Johnson said. "Our goal was just to get to the championship so we'd get six games. But it's always nice to win your own tournament. We wanted to build a little bit of momentum for league play."

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.