Boys Basketball: Joliet West gets past Lincoln-Way Central
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media December 15, 2012 1:28AM
Updated: January 17, 2013 6:40AM
The first-quarter confidence Lincoln-Way Central might have had from taking a 9-2 lead against Joliet West slipped away in the second quarter.
No. 2 Joliet West recovered from the slow start to gain a 9-all tie and then put together a 25-point second quarter on its way to a 63-53 home victory Friday night that wasn’t as close as the score indicates.
Ryan Modiest provided the spark for Joliet West with 13 second-quarter points, including three of his four three-pointers and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
“I was just being ready to shoot and playing my role,’’ Modiest said. “Playing hard on defense, trying to keep the energy up for the team.’’
Modiest finished with a game-high 16 points, getting support from Morris Dunnigan and Brandon McCullum with 11 points each and Carl Terrell with 10. West led 53-30 going into the final quarter.
“A couple of kickout threes motivated the team and we started playing with a little more energy,’’ Modiest said. “It led to a couple runs.’’
“Ryan is maximizing everything he has as a basketball player right now,’’ West coach Luke Yaklich said. “His energy, his shot-making in the first half really stretched their defense out.’’
Dunnigan scored nine of his points in the first half, driving to the hoop twice in the pivotal second quarter and hitting 3-of-4 free throws in the second period.
McCullum’s three-pointer gave Joliet West (7-2, 2-1 SouthWest Suburban Blue) its first lead of the game, 13-11 with 5 minutes, 45 seconds left before halftime.
“He’s a steady player who always has his foot on the accelerator,’’ Yaklich said. “He finds a way to get eight, 10, 11 points and he is charged with shutting down the other team’s best player.’’
Kevin Mampe led Lincoln-Way Central (4-6, 0-3) with 10 points and nine rebounds. Brad Bass and Nick Kowalkowski each had nine points.
“They’ve got really good guards,’’ Central coach Bob Curran said. “They’re quicker at that position and they forced their will on us. Their pressure defense really hurried us up.’’
