The high school basketball scene is littered with big players who dream of being shooting guards - those in the post who float out to the perimeter and shoot three-pointers every chance they get.

Jefferson Academy's Jason Mihalcin has no such desires. As the biggest player on the Jaguars' roster, Mihalcin understands his role is to play in the paint, battling for rebounds and being a threat inside on offense.

Thursday night in a crucial Class 3A Frontier League matchup, Mihalcin was the prototypical big man in leading the Jaguars to a 65-46 victory against previously unbeaten The Pinnacle.

Mihalcin was 9-of-10 from the floor - all his shots came from within 5 feet of the basket - and he finished with a game-best 19 points to go with nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

"I try to stay down low as much as I can," said Mihalcin, a 6-foot-5 senior. "This was one of our most important games of the year, so we had to work the boards and get some rebounds."

Even when Mihalcin had to go to the bench with foul trouble, Jefferson Academy (9-1 overall, 2-0 Frontier League) was able to maintain an advantage on the boards. David Burkel, in particular, grabbed several big rebounds in the fourth quarter to help the Jaguars hold off a spirited comeback attempt by the Timberwolves (8-1, 2-1).

The Pinnacle trailed by as many as 16 in the first half, only to cut the deficit to 51-45 on Cornell Orme's three-point play with 5:57 left.

The Timberwolves had several good looks at open three-pointers on their next couple of trips down the floor, but they couldn't knock them down

The Pinnacle didn't score another point until 17 seconds remained in the game.

Burkel grabbed five of his six rebounds in the fourth quarter, including on three successive defensive trips after the Timberwolves had pulled to six.

"Dave Burkel is a great, solid role player," Jefferson Academy coach Mark Sharpley said. "He comes in and he'll take a charge or get a rebound."

Orme, a 6-foot senior guard, was spectacular early for The Pinnacle, torching the Jaguars for 12 points in the first quarter.

But he went to the bench after picking up his third foul early in the second quarter, and the Jaguars closed the first half with an 18-7 run to open a 41-26 lead.

"I made a bonehead play and I should've passed it," Orme said. "I got a little rusty on the bench because I had to sit out the whole second quarter. But this is a learning process for us, and we'll get better."

The Pinnacle 16 10 15 5 - 46

Jefferson Academy 17 24 10 14 - 65

P - Chris Tafoya 2 1-2 7, Cornell Orme 7 1-1 17, Marcus Riddick 0 8-14 8, Caylene Granger 3 0-1 6, Tieran Dysart 0 2-4 2, Trei Dysart 1 3-5 6. Totals 13 15-27 46.

JA - Tommy Olson 4 0-0 8, Isaac Lewis 1 1-2 3, Michael Hagen-Daniel 2 0-0 5, Tanner Ryan 1 1-2 3, David Burkel 2 5-6 9, Danny Dodson 5 6-11 16, Jason Mihalcin 9 1-3 19, Luke Holocher 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 14-24 65.

Three-point goals - P, Orme 2, Tafoya 2, Trei Dysart 1; JA, Hagen-Daniel. Fouled out - Granger, Trei Dysart.