They're heading to the Regional Finals

In a post-season where it seems like every night a different player is stepping up, Tim Holland and Isaiah Jackson where real difference makers for the Patriots in their 60-52 win over Sandusky last night.

Holland scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half and helped USA establish a post-pressence early. This was by far the best Holland has looked all tournament. '

Coach Gainforth has talked last week about Holland still being slowed by his injury and not having his wind back, but at least this point those issues seem to be behind him. Having Holland at or near 100 percent can only help the Pats this Friday against Nouvel.

While Holland helped the team start strong early, it was Jackson who made sure they walked away with a win. Jackson scored all 10 of his points in the seond half; really in the last 8:01.

Isaiah fired up a buzzer beater with about one second left in the third to give USA a 44-43 lead heading into the final quarter.

This was the second "buzzer beater" by Jackson in recent weeks as he hit one in OT to beat Reese in the Patriot's regular season finale. So what is his secret? Gainforth explained that Jackson has the ability to extend his body over opponents when he shoots, which helps him get those late shots off.

Isaiah went on to add eight points in the fourth, hitting several key shots and a couple of key free throws that helped keep his team ahead.

With Jackson, Holland, Taylor Cramer, Brandon Bitzer, and Kelson Gettel firing on all cylinders at this point (although Gettel's contributions are the kind that don't show up in the box scores), I like USA's chance to stick with and possibly beat Nouvel this Friday. They did lose to them earlier in the season to them by 15 points, but this is a totally different team.

That was a team coming off of losses to Cass City at home (their first loss at their house in over four years) and Buena Vista, and where are also in the early stages of dealing with the news of Brennan Pitcher's illness.

It was also a team that hadn't found a real role for Cramer at that point, the same Cramer who is averaging 15.8 ppg in the playoffs and hit 15 triples so far (4.25 per game) including five or more twice (five vs. Sandusky, six vs. Ubly).

Needless to say this is a team that has so many weapons it is capable of beating any one on any given night. I've got a feeling this team is going to win the Regional this Friday.

How ironic would that be? The kids that have played in the shadow of last year's team all season, with a win Friday, would have made it further in the post-season then the team they are constantly comapred to.

How's that for establishing your own legacy?