Jackson Wiechart answers the anticipation of a packed gym with the third of his three successive three-point shots in the fourth quarter to lead the Blue Jays past Marion Local Friday, 55-43. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
It’s not often that it happens, but when it does, and when you do it like Jackson Wiechert did it…the best three minutes of a basketball game is something you remember for a long time.
It doesn’t happen that often.
And sportswriters often mischaracterize what they will call “the best three minutes” of anything, whether it’s true or not. It’s become that cliche’. Good for headlines.
But credit to Delphos St. John sophomore Jackson Wiechert, who with Friday night’s game with Marion Local tied at 39-39 and under five minutes left to play, torched the undefeated Flyers with three consecutive three-point bombs to give his team the lead…and Marion Local, literally, ‘the blues’. For those fantastic three minutes, he claims this week’s ‘Who’s Hot’ honors on Press Pros.
The game went from 39-39 to 48-41 in the blink of an eye. The packed stands in St. John’s claustrophobic Arnzen Gymnasium went through the roof. And Wiechert’s teammate, Easton Elwer, then promptly iced the game in the final two minutes at the foul line. Final score: 55-43.
Wiechert (apparently pronounced with the long ‘E’ sound…Week-ert) actually hit five three-pointers in the game, accounting for all of his 15 points, second to teammate Cam Elwer’s 19. And while five threes is a night’s work, no one would have remembered the other two had it not been for those three in a row in the fourth quarter.
“He’s a hard worker, and he’s a dependable contributor to the team,” his coach, Aaron Elwer would say later.
For sure…..
Teammate Cam Elwer credits him for his early-morning commitment. “He’s in here with me at 6 am shooting,” said Elwer.
All Wiechert, himself, would say was: “I saw that no one was guarding me…so I said I was going to shoot. I practice a lot with my dad. There was no problem.”
It also provided one of our more iconic basketball images of the season, something right out of Norman Rockwell – the cheerleaders and the bench holding up three fingers in excited anticipation of his final shot. And of course, he didn’t let them down. He just raised the roof. There was no problem.
On behalf of our sponsor, the St. Henry Bank, our congratulations go out to Jackson Wiechert of the undefeated Delphos St. John Blue Jays. This week’s ‘Who’s Hot’ honoree on Press Pros.
For something they’ll remember for a long, long time!
On behalf of sponsor, the St. Henry Bank, Press Pros is happy to recognize this week’s ‘Who’s Hot’ honoree, coach Jackson Wiechert, of the Delphos St. John Blue Jays.