Metro Sports Report

Subs help No. 14 Eagles dunk Black Hawk

The Kirkwood Eagles will need strong performances from their reserves this season if they want to seriously pursue their goals of winning conference and national titles.

They took a big step in the right direction Tuesday night.

The 14th-ranked Eagles got a big boost from their subs in a 94-69 victory over Black Hawk College at Johnson Hall.

Kirkwood's bench brigade topped their own starters in points (48-46), rebounds (24-23) and assists (11-7) and helped the Eagles take control in the second half.

The Kirkwood starters played well, and the Kirkwood reserves played even better.

"I thought they were the difference in the game," said Coach Bryan Petersen. "They gave us good energy and they were productive, and  that's what we talked about in the locker room.

"You look down the line at what they were able to do, just from  scoring the ball, rebounding and sharing the ball for us. They had a  great night. That's probably the best our bench has been all year."

GoFundMe campaign begins for Jacobson

The GoFundMe campaign for Ben Jacobson began Tuesday with the goal of raising $10,000 to help cover his medical expenses.

Jacobson, an assistant men's basketball coach at Kirkwood Community  College, is battling Level 2 brain cancer. The tumor is inoperable due  to its location, but radiation, chemotherapy and drugs could reduce the size of the tumor over the course of time.

Jacobson, 34, was diagnosed with the brain tumor after suffering a seizure while driving home to Solon Oct. 19 and being involved in a car accident (see accompanying story).

Doctors are suggesting five weeks of radiation and a year of chemo. Treatments are scheduled to begin next week.

(CLICK HERE FOR GOFUNDME LINK)

Jacobson returned to work with the Kirkwood basketball team on Monday and was back on the bench Tuesday night when the Eagles defeated Black Hawk College at Johnson Hall.

KCC coach Jacobson fighting brain cancer

Ben Jacobson wants to enjoy the normal pleasures in life, like seeing  his young children graduate from school and start families of their own some day. Grandchildren would be wonderful.

His professional dream is to become the head coach of an NCAA Division I men's basketball team, running his own shop after helping Kirkwood continue its winning ways as an assistant coach.

But Jacobson, 34, is facing the biggest battle of his life after being diagnosed with Level 2 brain cancer last month following a frightening car accident that could have ended his life right then.

Jacobson is determined to win this fight against a dreadful disease and the inoperable 2 1/2-inch tumor that's lodged in the frontal lobe of his brain. Doctors cannot remove the tumor because of its delicate location without serious risk of leaving him handicapped, but radiation, chemotherapy and special drugs could help reduce the tumor.

A delicate operation could leave him blind or deaf. "So that's kind of out of the question," he said.

The battle has just begun, however.

No. 14 Eagles fall in final seconds

WEST BURLINGTON - Kourtney Ware hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds Saturday night to snap a 69-69 tie and give Southeastern Community  College a 72-69 victory over Kirkwood in a men's basketball game.

Kirkwood built a 13-point lead with 14 minutes left in the ballgame, but Southeastern rallied and made it a tight contest. The lead changed  hands several times in the final minutes before the Blackhawks snatched victory at the end.

Chris King made three 3-pointers and tossed in 27 points for Kirkwood  (4-2). Nobody else reached double figures for the Eagles. LJ Stansbury finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.