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Boys Basketball: Threes key as Lincoln-Way East tops Joliet West
Updated: February 3, 2012 10:35PM
Lincoln-Way East on Friday had the great equalizer for a bigger, faster Joliet West team.
“That’s exactly the word we used,” East coach Rich Kolimas said after his team made 12 of 18 three-point baskets in a 68-63 SouthWest Suburban Blue home upset.
East (9-11, 2-7) was outrebounded, had more turnovers and put Joliet West (13-7, 6-3) into the super bonus with 3:36 left in the game, but survived for its second conference win a row.
“Maybe things are turning our way,” Kolimas said. “The kids played with a great deal of energy, played with a lot of passion on defense and hit some key shots.”
Jelani Yancy (24 points) had five of the three-pointers, while Eric Spudic (12 points) had four.
“They shot the ball incredibly,” said Joliet West coach Luke Yaklich, whose team lost its second in a row after a five-game win streak. “They were the aggressor for the most part and had us on our heels for the better part of three quarters.”
Joliet West’s Marlon Johnson, who didn’t start because of a coach’s decision, was active once he entered nearly five minutes into the game. Johnson had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and his one-handed dunk gave Joliet West a 19-16 lead early in the second period.
Yancy answered with a driving three-point play that started the Griffins on an 18-6 run. Yancy also had a three-point basket during the stretch, and Spudic had two three-pointers. The Griffins, who opened a 34-25 lead, hit six three-pointers in each half.
Yancy hit another three-pointer on East’s first possession of the second half for a 37-27 lead. He drove up court and hit a three-pointer at the third-period buzzer for a 53-41 advantage.
Morris Dunnigan led the Tigers with 20 points.
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