Image via Brody Hannon Photography

After a January that saw the Cubs go 3-4 overall and stand at 19-6, they looked to rebound in their final regular season home game against the Shadow Hills Knights.

Starting Lineup

PG: Matthias Wagner, #12 (6’1”, Sr., G)

SG: Jonas de Krassel, #20 (6’4”, So., G/F)

SF: Vincent Sampson, #30 (6’1”, Sr., F/C)

PF: Hugh Vandeweghe, #24 (6’7”, So., F/C)

C: Parker Jones, #13 (6’6”, Sr., G/F/C)

First Quarter

The game begins and after some passing and missing the shot, Jones scores a three-pointer at 7:13, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead. The Knights catch up immediately at 7:00 with a three-pointer. They are then given free throws at 6:49 and score two points, giving them a lead of 5-3. At 6:22, Jones earns a three pointer to put the Cubs in front with a 6-5 lead. He strikes again at 5:08 with yet another three pointer, giving the Cubs a score of 9-5. The Knights score a two-pointer at 4:54, but Jones comes back with another three-pointer at 4:38, changing the score to 12-7. Jones makes another three-pointer at 4:14 with a 15-7 lead. The Knights attempt to catch up with free throws, earning two points and a score of 15-9. However, Jones scores a two-pointer at 3:52 with a 17-9 lead. The Knights miss their shot soon after and then miss their free throws when given the chance. The Cubs score at 3:26 with a two-pointer and the Knights score their two-pointer at 3:11, changing the score to 19-11. Jones earns a three-pointer at 2:55 and then the Knights earn a two-pointer at 2:46, with the score now being 22-13. The Knights then miss their shot but soon score a two-pointer at 1:50. Pentz scores a two-pointer at 1:31 and the Cubs score another one at 1:20 with a 26-15 lead. The Knights miss their shot. De Krassel passes the ball to Jones who then stands to observe his surroundings. He then makes a move only to unfortunately drop the ball. The Knights end the quarter with a two-pointer, ending with a score of 26-17.

Score: 26-17 Loyola

Second Quarter

At 7:47, Cox scores a two-pointer with a 28-17 lead. Jones then follows up with another one at 7:38, giving them a 30-17 lead. Cox is given free throws at 7:03 and earns two points. The Knights are also given free throws at 6:54 and score 32-18. The Cubs score a two-pointer at 6:38. The Knights try to score, but miss their shot. The Cubs earn a three-pointer at 6:09 and earn more points when Cox is given free throws at 5:54, who scores the first time but misses the second time. The total score is now 38-18 Loyola. The Knights score a two-pointer at 4:53 and Vandeweghe scores a three-pointer for the Cubs at 4:36 with a 41-20 lead. The Knights score another two-pointer at 4:25 with a score of 41-22. Cox attempts to make a shot, but misses. The Knights earn more two-pointers at 2:25 and 2:12 with a score of 41-26. Jones scores a two-pointer at 1:51 with a 43-26 lead. Crisostomo makes both free throws at 1:25 with a score of 45-26. With 48 seconds left, de Krassel scores a three-pointer and the score is 48-26. Toliver steals the ball from the Knights soon after and with 38 seconds left, scores a two-pointer with a 50-26 lead. The Knights score a three pointer with 4 seconds left, but Cox makes a three-pointer at the very last second. The quarter ends with a score of 53-29, with Jones leading the way with 22 points and five three-pointers.

Score: 53-29 Loyola

Third Quarter

The Cubs get the ball to begin the second half, but Vandeweghe misses a three.  The Knights make a two with 7:35 remaining.  Wagner gets a floater to go with 6:35 left, and the Cubs lead 55-31.  The Knights and Toliver make layups at the 6:24 and 5:55 marks, respectively.  Wagner is fouled hard by a Shadow Hills player at the 5:53 mark, leading to two technical free throws by Vandeweghe, who misses both.  Cox gets a steal, Wagner misses a three, Vandweghe gets an offensive rebound, and the Cubs turn it over with 5:03 remaining.  A Cox steal leads to a Jones layup with 4:47 to go.  The Knights make a three with 4:36 left and a two with 4:07 left.  Jones buries a three with 3:23 to go, and Cox takes the charge on the other end eight seconds later.  Jones buries another three with under three minutes left for his 30th point of the evening.  The Cubs lead 65-38.  He misses one with 2:12 to go.  The Knights make one of two free throws with 1:53 left.  Pentz makes a layup with 1:26 remaining.  The Knights drain a three with 46 seconds to go.  Cox is sent to the line with nine seconds to go and makes one of two to end the quarter.

Score: 68-43 Loyola

Fourth Quarter

The Knights have possession to begin the final frame, but are called for an over-and-back with 7:50 to play.  Pentz finds De Krassel for an easy layup with under seven minutes remaining.  Jones makes a layup with 6:25 left.  Toliver gets a steal and layup with 6:12 remaining, and the Cubs lead 74-43.  The Knights complete a four-point play with 5:30 remaining.  They drain another three with under five minutes left.  Vandweghe drains a putback floater with 4:08 to play.  A Cox steal leads to an and-one layup by Jones, who makes the following free throw with 4:02 remaining.  The Knights are sent to the line with 3:55 remaining and make both free throws.  Peyton Lodge finds Joshua Ferguson for a layup with 2:04 to go.  Luca Labuschagne is sent to the line with 1:32 remaining and makes one of two.  The Knights make one of two on their end with 1:15 to play.  They make one more with 24 seconds remaining.  The Cubs end their last regular-season home game with a blowout victory behind Parker Jones’s incendiary 35 points.

FINAL: 83-54 Loyola

Postgame

My postgame interview with Jones can be found here.

Aside from Jones’s 35, he also had five steals, four rebounds and an assist.  Cox had 11 points, ten rebounds, nine steals, two rebounds and a block.  Vandeweghe rounded out the top-three Cub scorers with ten points, while also contributing three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The Next Game

The Cubs will begin their playoff run next week!  Stay tuned to the schedule for details.

For more of Brody's photos from the game, click here.