Boys Basketball: Minooka falls to Oswego East
By Tim Tierney For Sun-Times Media January 22, 2013 10:06PM
Updated: February 24, 2013 6:25AM
Despite missed layups and free throws throughout the game, No. 3 Minooka overcame a 12-point deficit in the third quarter and had a chance for a come-from-behind victory Tuesday night against Oswego East.
Darrin Myers was a key part of the comeback, but the senior guard was called for charging with nine seconds to play as he looked for an opening moving through the lane.
Oswego East added a free throw two seconds later and the Wolves held on for a 50-48 road victory.
“When I went to the basket, I saw their player moving so I decided to take off and try to draw contact,’’ Myers said. “I guess the ref saw it different. That’s just how the ref called it.’’
Myers scored eight of his team-high 13 points in the second half to help Minooka get back in the game, but he wasn’t happy with the Indians’ start. Minooka coach Scott Tanaka substituted four players just two minutes into the game with the Indians down 6-0.
“We just came out with no energy,’’ Myers said. “They started off the game with 100 percent intensity. We were about 65 percent.’’
Minooka rallied from a 33-21 deficit early in the second half and went ahead 41-39 on a three-pointer by Jake Hogen with 5 minutes, 26 seconds to play. The Indians’ final lead was 48-47 after a trey by Jake Smith (11 points) with 1:30 left.
The standings in the Southwest Prairie after the first half of the schedule show Oswego in first place and Minooka (14-8, 5-2) still in good standing.
“The kids have a tremendous amount of fight in them,’’ Tanaka said. “We’re not worried whether we’re up 15 or down 15 that we can hold a lead or get a lead. The ball just didn’t go our way at the end.’’
Minooka begins the second half of its conference schedule with three straight road games, starting Friday at Plainfield North. That trek is followed by a Feb. 5 home date against defending conference champ Plainfield East and a Feb. 8 rematch with Oswego on the road.
C.J. Vaughan led Oswego East (7-10, 4-3) with 13 points and Kendall Dorsey had 12. Scooter Smith’s layup put East ahead 49-48 with 1:09 left. Vaughan added a free throw with seven seconds to play.
