While northeastern Ohio drivers were battling icy roads on Feb. 26 the Jackson sixth grade boy’s basketball team was traveling south to Columbus on a mission. Three days later they were back home in Stark County with a championship trophy after winning the Ohio Youth Basketball State Tournament with a perfect 6-0 record.
Jackson combined tremendous outside shooting with a tenacious defense to claim the title. The young Polar Bears made an amazing 27 three point field goals during the tournament including nine in the 44-37 championship victory over Hilliard.
“Our guards played very well throughout the tournament,” said assistant coach Todd Pallotta. “It really helped that they could shoot from outside plus rebound the basketball for us.”
Jackson emerged as the top seed going into Sunday’s playoff round after going through pool play on Saturday with a perfect 3-0 record.
“There were 14 sixth grade Division I teams in the tournament,” said head coach Justin Greenfelder. “And we were the only team to go 3-0 in pool play”.
Jackson’s championship run started Saturday afternoon with a 48-36 win over Hilliard and continued later in the day with consecutive victories over Grove City and Gahana. In Sunday’s quarterfinal contest the Polar Bears eliminated Nordonia 30-20 and then sent Pickerington home with a 44-39 win. The seven point win over Hilliard in the title game was the team’s 23rd straight win of the season.
The real story behind the championship weekend was what happened off the court. After a Friday night trip to “Game Works” the boys returned to their hotel to watch a short clip from the movie “Miracle on Ice” that chronicled the U.S. hockey team’s unforgettable Olympic victory over the Soviet Union.
“The clip showed the team walking past a wall full of telegrams from well wishers,” Greenfelder said. “After the clip I handed out letters to all the boys that were written by their parents and other family members wishing them good luck for the weekend. The boys were very surprised and touched by the letters.”
Greenfelder wasn’t finished with his motivational plan. “On Saturday we were not scheduled to play until 4:30,” Greenfelder said. “So we all gathered to watch “More Than a Game” about LeBron and his St. V teammates. The boys were glued to the TV and were inspired by the movie going so far as to imitate the St. V team’s chants before every game of the tournament.”
There were plenty of special moments on the court as well.
Jake Pallotta had 10 points and 15 rebounds in the opening game win over Hilliard. David Smith chipped in with 13 points.
Jon Conkle had 11 points and 8 rebounds in the win over Grove City.
Smith came back with 14 points in the game three victory over Gahana.
Justin Johnston’s run-out layup and baseline jumper were big in the win over Pickerington.
Pallotta started the championship game with three straight three pointers. Smith hit five more three pointers, two coming in the final minutes of the game.
Pallotta and Smith were both selected to the all- tournament team.
“This team was truly a family,” Greenfelder said. “Our message, and the message of the Jackson basketball program was “one family, one heartbeat,” and this year’s sixth grade team was certainly that.”
