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Sports
Spotless record : Sports : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisSpotless record
| OHS boys basketball team takes the lead in SPC race
| by Laura M. Medina
| 1/17/2013
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In a battle of undefeated Southwest Prairie Conference teams, it was the Oswego boys' basketball team that kept its spotless mark intact following a 63-57 win at Minooka last Friday night.
With the victory, the Panthers (13-2) not only picked up their third straight overall victory, but they also improved to 5-0 in league competition. Meanwhile, the Indians (9-5) fell to 4-1 in the standings.
Both teams entered the contest following significant SPC triumphs on Jan. 8 - a 63-53 win versus Plainfield Central for Oswego, and a 55-51 against Plainfield East for Minooka - but it appears that the better hand has been dealt to the Panthers in recent weeks.
"We got two conference wins during final exams week, and I don't care what anybody says, finals takes a lot out of kids, but we managed to navigate through it," Oswego head coach Kevin Schnable said. "We played better (Friday night) than we did Tuesday night."
Everything has been falling into place for the squad, which continues to put the opposition on notice with its all-around solid play and its tandem of senior guards Miles Simelton and Elliot McGaughy.
But neither player, however valuable to the Panthers successes thus far, was able to jump-start the offense in the opening minutes of play last week.
After playing a scoreless first, though, Oswego senior forward Jack Kwiatkowski finally broke the scoreless game by converting a steal into a transition layup with 4:29 left in the quarter.
Senior guard-forward Darion Reddick drove to the basket about a minute later for the 4-0 lead, but within 30 seconds, Minooka cut the deficit with its first tally of the night, a three-pointer from guard Darrin Myers (team-best 15 points).
Each team found its groove as the quarter wound down, but it was the Panthers setting the pace and taking the early 12-6 advantage after the first eight minutes of play.
Oswego kept Minooka at bay throughout the second and eventually pulled away for the 27-16 lead following senior guard Jamaal Richardson's assist on Reddick's jumper with 1:13 remaining in the half.
Reddick tallied nine of his 20 points in the first half, providing a boost to the offensive efforts of both Simelton (13 points) and McGaughy (team-high 21 points, five rebounds).
"Darion is just having a super season for us," Schnable said of Reddick, who secured his double-double with 12 boards on the night. "I don't want to say he fell into it, because he didn't. He's been working hard, and he's our third scorer.
"Obviously, Miles and Elliot are going to get a lot of attention, so we need other guys to step up. That's been a recurring theme. We've won a lot - we're 13-2 - but as a coach, when I reflect on games where we not only won but played well, it's been because of our balanced scoring."
Guard-forward Joe Butler chipped in a three-pointer to help the Indians' cause in the first half, but McGaughy's jumper with 33 seconds to go gave the Panthers a 10-point halftime lead.
Minooka edged Oswego 16-15 in the third, but it was not enough to make a dent in the visiting side's advantage, as the Panthers remained ahead 44-35 at the end of the quarter.
A 6-2 swing, capped by Reddick draining the back-end of a pair of free throws, in the first 1:35 of the fourth pushed Oswego to its biggest advantage of the night (50-37) and seemingly took Minooka out of the game.
"We worked hard on the offensive glass," Schnable said. "We did some better things offensively, cutting and crashing giving us second-chance opportunities. There's a lot more good than bad coming out of this."
But the Indians failed to give up on their home court, answering nearly every Panther basket and working their way to within five (62-57) with 13 ticks left in the contest. Unfortunately, with time winding down, the team was unable to orchestrate a complete comeback and fell 63-57.
"I thought for the most part we were solid defensively," Schnable said. "As the game went on, though, we had a few breakdowns that cost us. But I'm pleased. It's a good win, because it's a good team we played, it's a road win, and it's a conference win.
"I like (this) week a lot better. We have a clean week to prepare for one team. Last week was chopped up with finals and a Tuesday game, but we're pleased to get out of (there) with another 'W.' But we're going to keep working."
That hard-work mentality will certainly come into play with a busy holiday weekend for Oswego, which looks to defend its SPC run when it returns to the hardwood at Plainfield North on Friday night.
Then, the Panthers then head to the Martin Luther King, Jr., tournament at Wheaton South on Saturday and Monday before resuming league competition versus Romeoville at home on Tuesday. (Oswego will meet host Wheaton South on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in bracket play.)
"One week, one (conference) team, and we're fully focused," Schnable said. "We respect (Plainfield North). It won't be easy - it never is - and it's not as much fun if it isn't. We've got to go there and get another 'W.'"
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