Boys Basketball: Hope Academy gets by Bartlett

Updated: December 20, 2011 9:08PM

Bartlett has struggled in its first two pool games at the Jacobs Holiday Classic. Things didn’t look much better for the Hawks Tuesday in their matchup against Chicago Hope. Hope Academy features star Jalen James and is probably considered the favorite to take the title this week at Jacobs. Bartlett kept the game close for three quarters before falling to the Eagles 70-54.

Hope Academy (10-2) got off to a quick start Tuesday and the route appeared to be on. Bartlett (5-6) had different plans as the Hawks were able to keep the game within seven or eight points most of the first half. The game could have been even closer, but Bartlett was having difficulty converting some open looks.

The Eagles started to play real sloppy in the second quarter with the ball and on defense and coach Mike Edwards had seen enough. Edwards took out the entire starting lineup and put the end of his bench in to send a message to his club. Hope held a 31-21 lead at the half.

Bartlett still was holding strong in the third quarter, and cut the lead to just two points with two minutes left in the third quarter. That is when Hope started really started to turn things on. Hope increased the lead to 45-38 at the end of the third quarter. Jalen James started to run the floor and create shots for his teammates and Bartlett had no answer. Although the final score showed a 16 point defeat, the game was much closer.

“I thought we played great for three quarters,” said Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith. “The fourth quarter showed how much of an inexperienced team we truly our and really need to learn how to finish games. In the end we gave a solid effort against a good Hope team.”

Matt Chaltin led the Hawks with 18 points and Lorenzo Mitchell poured in another 11 points for Bartlett.

Jalen James led Hope with 18 points and Torrance Johnson scored 17 for the Eagles.

© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.