MICHIGAN CITY | Jeremiah Jones gave Merrillville coach Jim East and wife Marlene a happy 50th wedding anniversary Monday, and the Pirates' clutch junior didn't even have to spend a dime.
Jones was pure money in the second half of the Class 4A Michigan City Sectional championship game, scoring 20 of his 22 points, including a game-winning 3-pointer from deep on the left wing that lifted the Pirates to a pulsating 50-47 victory over Valparaiso.
"I knew I had to make a big play," Jones said. "Big players make big plays in big games. The first half, I struggled a little bit. I knew I had to step up if we were going to win. Coach drew up a great play and we executed. I know I'm a good shooter, but I never expected a second half like that. I thank God. I thank my teammates and coaches for trusting me."
The clock was reset for 3.5 seconds for Valpo's final possession, but it couldn't get the ball to its intended target, Jerrick Suiter as Andy Martin was stripped on a double team.
"We forced (Jones) to take a 24-foot shot. There's nothing else you can ask kids to do defensively," Valpo coach Joe Otis said. "Jones hit three huge shots and he was guarded on all of them. What can you say? It came down to who made a shot."
Jones took one shot -- a miss -- in the first half, when Valpo (19-4) focused its defensive attentions on him and point guard Brandon Clark. He went 7-for-7 in the second half and hit three of his four treys in the fourth quarter, bringing the Pirates (20-3) back from a 43-37 deficit.
"I challenged him at halftime," East said. "I told him he was going to have to come through for us."
The game featured 11 ties and nine lead changes. Valpo's six-point lead, the result of a 10-0 run sparked by Brad Karp (20 points), was the game's largest margin. Merrillville's largest advantage was five.
"I've got a lot of devastated kids in there," Otis said. "Two teams with identical records, co-conference champions, two close games. It was the way it should be. We've led a charmed life in some games with late endings. It just wasn't meant to be."
The title was the Pirates' first since 2003. East couldn't help but recognize the numerical symmetry of the final score and his anniversary, not to mention it was his 500th victory at Merrillville.
"It's like it was in the stars," East said. "I really wanted it so bad for these kids. It's been a while. We set a goal for ourselves at the beginning of the year. We weren't going to be happy unless we cut the nets down. The end of the year is what it's all about. I've lost games like that so it's nice to win one."
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class 4A Michigan City Sectional
Championship
Merrillville 50, Valparaiso 47
Jeremiah Jones scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half.
More inside, online
Read Steve Hanlon's take on Monday's Michigan City Sectional championship game. PAGE B2
How many local regional champions will Northwest Indiana produce? Vote at nwi.com/sports
