Boys Basketball: Joliet West defense leads way to win over Lincoln-Way Central

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Updated: January 19, 2012 11:08AM

Unable to find consistent offense, Joliet West used its defense to get points in a 45-40 SouthWest Suburban Conference victory Friday at Lincoln-Way Central.

“Our game plan was to put pressure on the ball,” Joliet West coach Luke Yaklich said. “Our defense won us the game tonight.”

The Tigers (7-2, 2-1) forced 21 of Central’s 22 turnovers after the first quarter and overcame a seven-point second-quarter deficit once the pressure took hold.

“Our defense got us some easy shots,” Yaklich said. “We had to get that because our half-court offense and free-throw shooting (13-for-34) was abysmal.”

Joliet West withstood a quiet first half from star Marlon Johnson, who sat out the entire second quarter with two fouls after not scoring in the first.

West used a pressure defense that forced eight turnovers and allowed just two field goals in the second quarter.

The Tigers scored the last nine points of the first half over the final 1:57 to take a 22-20 halftime lead. Carl Terrell hit a first-half buzzer-beating jumper for West’s first lead of the game.

Junior Morris Dunnigan helped offset the absence of Johnson with 13 first-half points on his way to a career-high 24. He had a steal and layup twice in the final 1:30 of the first half.

Johnson had 10 points and six rebounds in the second half.

“I was proud of how hard we played,” Yaklich said. “But the free-throw shooting the last couple games has been kind of a snake that came up and bit us.”

Center Brad Foster, who was coming off a 23-point, 10-rebound game, was held to just four points and two rebounds in the first half for Lincoln-Way Central (5-6, 0-3). He finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots.

Johnny Finnin led the Knights with 14 points.