Boys Basketball: Experience offsets Lockport’s lack of height

Updated: May 9, 2012 10:04AM

Lockport may not have much size. Four of its five starters are 6-foot or smaller.

The Porters plan to combat their lack of size with an abundance of experience. That primarily is how they went through the WJOL Tournament unscathed at 3-0.

“We did a good job of pushing the ball, making good decisions and taking good shots,” Lockport coach Lawrence Thompson said. “I expected, with the experience we have, to be competitive. We had the most experience of the teams in the tournament and I thought we had a chance to win three games.

“We’re not very big. We really have no post presence to speak of. But we have four starters who played a lot of minutes last year and I thought they would make good decisions on the floor.”

Courtney Cole was named tourney MVP. Dexter Taylor, Kyle Ward and Brandon Sawin all played well and had their moments in the spotlight.

Thompson is confident the Porters will continue to make sound decisions and distribute the ball in a selfless manner.

“Each of their roles have changed since last year,” Thompson said. “But they should be able to read what’s going on and get the ball in the right hands.”

Nice start for Griffins

Lincoln-Way East dropped its first game of the season to T.F. South, but rebounded to register three straight wins.

“Not bad,” East coach Rich Kolimas said. “I think we had the jitters against T.F. South and shot the ball poorly.”

The Griffins were 9-of-19 from the free-throw line against the Rebels.

Ryan Hayes was stellar throughout, totaling 47 points. T.J. Anstett, Joel Magrum and Jay Yancy stepped up after the season-opening loss.

McKenna celebrates 40 years officiating

Jim McKenna, a longtime official, has seen many of the Southland’s greatest prep hoop players over the years.

On Friday at Marian Catholic, McKenna celebrated his 40th year as an official.

After coaching for St. Felicitas on Chicago’s Southeast Side during the 1969 and 1970 seasons, he shifted to officiating. His first assignment was Mount Carmel vs. Gordon Tech back in 1971.

“I’ve seen a lot of great kids,” McKenna said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

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