Boys Basketball: Plainfield East races past Oswego

Updated: December 2, 2011 9:44PM

A couple minutes into the game, glimpses from both No 13 Plainfield East and Oswego showed that either team could be the one to beat in the Southwest Prairie Conference this season.

From there, it was all Plainfield East. The host Bengals responded to an early 8-2 deficit and a timeout scowl from coach Branden Adkins with a suffocating 32-7 run Friday night that delivered a 72-42 victory in the conference opener for both teams.

“We were messing up on defense, taking quick shots on offense,’’ said Plainfield East swingman Austin Robinson. “Coach said it’s not the first look we have, it’s the best look we have. That hit home and made everybody get the best opportunities.’’

Plainfield East (5-0, 1-0) went ahead 21-11 after one quarter with a swift transition attack and the Bengals took over the game in the second period with Robinson (15 points) sustaining the scoring momentum.

Robinson’s jumper made it 28-15 and his steal and layup upped the lead to 30-15 midway through the quarter, prompting an Oswego timeout.

The balanced scoring made a big difference as back-to-back baskets by DesNique Harris (seven points) and Dee Brown gave East a 34-15 advantage with 2:15 left in the half. Center Brian Bennett had a team-high 18 points.

“As soon as we got it going, we were trying to push it down their throat,’’ Robinson said. “We knew we had size advantage. We knew we were strong and fast. We were just trying to utilize it all.’’

“I think the hype of the first home game and Oswego was picked first in the conference, I think we were just a little bit too excited,’’ Adkins said of the slow start. “We turned up the defense.’’

Darrion Reddick led Oswego (2-3, 0-1) with 16 points.

“We’re just not very good right now,’’ Oswego coach Kevin Schnable said. “They’re just that much better than us now.’’

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