By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
Last year, Mike Jacobs took care of business off the court.
This year, the Bordentown Regional High School junior is taking care of business on the court.
”I missed a lot last year because I was working on keeping my grades up,” Jacobs said. “But this year I am back on the court. I had been working out over the summer so I was able to jump right back into it. I am just trying to help team get some wins before the season ends.”
Jacobs has been the Scotties’ steadiest player this season. The 6-foot-4 forward is averaging a shade under 15 points a game this season, including a season high 34 in a recent 81-75 loss to Cinnaminson. He also scored 30 points in a win over Maple Shade earlier this season.
”He’s playing the four spot for us right now but he is probably more of a three than a four,” said Bordentown coach Kevin Wright, whose team took a 6-9 record into Tuesday’s scheduled game with Willingboro. “He can score. He’s had a couple games where he has scored in the 30s. But he has also had some games where he has scored four. So we’re working on making him more consistent.”
Jacobs has been a bright spot in an up and down season for the Scotties. With six wins, they have a good shot at qualifying for the state tournament later this season. And with a young roster each step forward help builds toward next season.
”We are at 6-9 right now and we have been improving since last season,” Wright said. “That is step in the right direction. We’re hoping to qualify for the state tournament. I think one more win will probably get us in. We have some rough games coming up but we have played a tough schedule all year.”
Jacobs is doing what he can to help the Scotties move forward. He played in just two games as a sophomore, but has been the team’s leading scorer this season.
”Some games we have ups and downs,” Jacobs said. “We just got over a three-game winning streak. But then we lost to some teams that are very good. We take what we learn to become a better team as the season goes on.”
Jacobs has been willing to play wherever Wright needs tom put him on the floor. Because of his size, most of the time he needs to play a big-man role.
”I don’t really have a primary position,” Jacobs said. “This year we’re short on height and I am the tallest kid so have to play inside more. If we had a little more height I would probably play a different spot. But it doesn’t matter to me. I play where the team needs me.”
The Scotties will lose several seniors after this season, so Jacobs will be leading a young cast next season. Wright can see the team taking a step forward each day.
”The kids are working hard and we’re improving each week,” the Bordentown coach said. “We’ve used some younger kids and we have a senior who is playing for first time — David Bridges — and he has been doing a nice job inside for us.
”Mike Jacobs only played a couple games at the end of last year and he is doing well. We also have some sophomores that we are looking at that have to be major contributors next year because we are losing a bunch of seniors. So we’ll look to the younger kids in the future.”
But next year is still quite a ways off for the Scotties. For this year, they are focused on improvement and making a run at the Central Jersey Group II tournament.
”We are playing six or seven deep right now,” Wright said. “The ones that have hung in have done a nice job and are working hard. We’re focusing on getting better ever day and that is what we have been doing.”
Jacobs is trying to do his part by setting an example for the younger players.
”Next year we’ll be young and we just have to teach the young kids how to play varsity basketball and get used to it,” he said. “I just had to get my mind right and stay positive when things are going right.”

