Boys Basketball: Plainfield East rallies to remain unbeaten

Updated: January 6, 2012 11:40PM

Plainfield East had better get used to what transpired during its first game of the new year Friday at Plainfield North.

An emotionally-fueled battle was finally decided when Brian Bennett sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds of a 60-55 Southwest Prairie Conference victory.

The win keeps No. 8 Plainfield East (12-0, 4-0) unbeaten in the SPC.

“Every team that we’re going to play throughout the rest of the season wants to be the first team to beat Plainfield East,” Plainfield East coach Branden Adkins said. “In the conference, it can be any night. I give (Plainfield North coach) Nick (DiForti) and his team a lot of credit. He had them ready to go, they knocked down shots and we’re lucky to come away with a win tonight.”

Senior guard Dee Brown had 25 points to go along with four assists and 6-foot-9 senior Brian Bennett came up with 16 points and eight rebounds.

“That’s the best game we’ve played all year,” DiForti said. “That’s a totally different team compared to the first 14 games of the season.”

Upset-minded Plainfield North (3-12, 2-2) built a five-point lead before settling for a 27-23 lead at the half.

“In the first half, we thought we were going to walk on the floor and win,” Brown said.

Bennett’s tip in gave East a 31-29 advantage with 5:30 left in the third. Dee Brown stopped on a dime, spun around to lose his player and hit a jumper. Second later, Mack Brown’s steal and layup capped a 10-0 run and gave the favorites a 43-33 lead.

The Bengals led 44-37 heading into the fourth quarter.

Plainfield North scored the first four points of the quarter. The Bengals’ lead was no more than four points until the final seconds.

Junior Marcus Fair and senior Jeremy Burt scored 13 points each for Plainfield North.

Junior guard Kendal Interial added 12.

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