Story
Twin towers Bobby Hain and Grant Pelchen power Jupiter's boys basketball team
Monday, January 16, 2012
by
Jeff Greer
A new nickname for Jupiter High basketball's two big men has started circulating throughout the school's hallways in recent weeks.
They call Bobby Hain and Grant Pelchen "the Twin Towers" - and rightfully so. Hain is 6-feet -9; Pelchen 6-10.
No other frontcourt in the area has that size, especially when 6-4 slasher Mike Edgely and 6-5 reserve Angelo Goss are included .
But Jupiter's towers are more than just big - they're also the key reason the Warriors are 12-6, ranked among the top large schools in the county and considered a contender to make a run to Lakeland for the state tournament in March.
Even though the Warriors lost in overtime to rival Palm Beach Gardens on Friday night and to state-ranked Coral Springs Christian on Saturday, there's no doubting the potential of Jupiter, which plays its next game at Atlantic at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
"They change your entire gameplan," Gardens coach Jim Arbogast said before his team upset Jupiter. "You have to figure out ways to work around them."
While most teams usually have one big man – Dwyer's 6-11 center Joel James or Wellington's 6-8 center Stephane Beneche, for example – many lack a second big guy.
That means teams often put a player much closer to 6 feet on Hain, or they simply switch to zone defenses.
"It's usually a big advantage for us," Hain said. "The goal is to go out and try to intimidate teams."
Hain, a senior who signed a letter of intent to play for Youngstown State next season, is Jupiter's leading scorer with 19 points a game. In recent weeks, he's become dominant, scoring at will, even against Jupiter's very difficult holiday-season schedule.
What sets Hain apart from Pelchen, a junior and a more traditional post player who is averaging 8.5 points a game, is his European style of play.
The shaggy-haired blond plays inside and out, shoots the three-pointer with ruthless efficiency and slashes to the basket. He even played guard for his AAU team, Florida Family, a club based in Fort Lauderdale.
Pelchen, who played on the 10th-grade Florida Family team this summer, is a rapidly improving project.
The change between Pelchen's sophomore and junior years has been dramatic, and Jupiter coach John Andersen has fielded calls about Pelchen from coaches at FAU, Davidson, Elon, Furman and Jacksonville.
He blocked seven shots against Dwyer's James, who signed to play at North Carolina. In the 70-65 loss to Gardens on Friday, Pelchen had 13 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks.
Andersen compares his young center to James, who has turned himself into a legitimate big man during three years of development. Pelchen, who spent much of last year nursing injuries, dunks and looks to score more than he did a year ago.
"It takes a while for it to click with (bigger guys)," Andersen said. "You just have to be patient."
That patience appears to be paying off. Though Jupiter's hit a few bumps along the way - home losses to Gardens and Palm Beach Lakes and a 33-point rout at the hands of state-ranked Lake Wales among them - there's no denying the Warriors' capabilities.
And with the 'Twin Towers' manning the paint, Jupiter has the look of a team built for March.
"That's what we want, and that's what we're working for," Hain said. "We'll be ready for districts and everything after that."
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User Comments:
Knight commented on January 16, 2012 at 10:29 p.m.: report abuse
STOP PLAYING!!!
Booyah commented on January 16, 2012 at 11:38 p.m.: report abuse
Well the twin towers aren't show stoppers yet and with 6 losses are you kidding me! With two kids that size they shoudl be undefeated!
Too soft commented on January 17, 2012 at 12:16 a.m.: report abuse
They got eaten alive by an above average post player from CSCA; Nura Zanna, who scored 32 on them. Yes, they may win states, but they are soft
PBC!!! commented on January 17, 2012 at 8:44 a.m.: report abuse
They have no chance of winning states!
PBC!!! commented on January 17, 2012 at 8:44 a.m.: report abuse
They have no chance of winning states!
Panther Pride commented on January 17, 2012 at 9:21 a.m.: report abuse
No Chance of winning even regionals... Jupiter is soft and lilly!
Yes commented on January 17, 2012 at 9:52 a.m.: report abuse
I hope they go far! To have Dwyer win it last year and then jupiter go win it this year would be too cool!!!
Talented commented on January 17, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.: report abuse
Very Talented team!!! They can def do it with thoses two D1 atheltes! Hain doin the scoring, pelchen covering the paint and average gaurds they have a shot to do it!
Basketball freak commented on January 17, 2012 at 10:44 a.m.: report abuse
They have 6 losts because they actually play real good teams
Looking at the teams they have lost too are
Lake Wales Ranked 3rd in State
Coaral Springs Christen 15th in State
Sagemont was 17th in state
Ensworth Tennessee top ten in Tennessee
Then Two upsets...
All close games beside lake wales who beat nationally ranked teams..
Soo i give them credit! There a real good, talented team!
I so some issues commented on January 17, 2012 at 12:32 p.m.: report abuse
I was at the gardens game when Jupiter played them. The guards have to play a little bit more smarter and take the shot when the oppurtunity arises. Alos, Coach Anderson needs to do a better job coaching when Angelo was put in the game he blocked a shot and then had a dunk 2 sec later Anderson subs him out. Angelo made gardens change their defense and how they played. but as soon as he took Angelo out here comes gardens. Jupiter's defense man to man or whatever took their eyes off #20 and I believe it was number 5 during the latter part of the game. I would say the twin towers do need to "get big" in the paint during parts of their game. Before anyone says I'm hatn I'm a jupiter alumni, I love everything about jupiter high sports and the town of jupiter. This is just my opinion of what I saw.
Old School Jupiter Local commented on January 17, 2012 at 1:34 p.m.: report abuse
Would love to see whatg Hugh Friday would have been able to do with these kids, used to love his style of coaching. With that being said Anderson is doing is a fine job, and this team has a very good shot at taking the title.
Wow commented on January 17, 2012 at 4:04 p.m.: report abuse
This is funny because I dont think Hain and Pelchen even combined for 10 points against sagemont and coral springs christian. they are soft and will lose in districts... cant believe you are making assumptions for them making a run to state with a 12-6 record and a home loss to gardens!?!
i so some issues commented on January 17, 2012 at 4:58 p.m.: report abuse
I hope you are joking about H. Friday. He could not do anything witht he twin towers he had or actually 3 tall players. I think Anderson is doing a good job also but I think he made a serious coaching mistake in the gardens game.
george commented on January 17, 2012 at 5:17 p.m.: report abuse
Maybe districts,with Dwyer's down year? Jupiter is lacking strong physical guard play to handle the strength and speed on a state level. Inside they stake up with anybody!
JupiterFan commented on January 17, 2012 at 10:56 p.m.: report abuse
Good to see Jupiter being a real good team! Looks like they can do it!
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