Goss: Plainfield East lands in hoops spotlight

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Plainfield East’s Brian Bennett (34). | Ray Luna~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: February 7, 2012 8:09AM

Plainfield East center Brian Bennett is about 45 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. He is stronger, more agile and plays in longer stints.

Guard Dee Brown always could score. But in the past he had to score. Now he has help in that department, allowing him to go full blast running the offense and defensively.

Austin Robinson, Myles Walters, Jawan Straughter, Mack Brown, Des’Nique Harris and Shekeal Taylor all have gotten coach Branden Adkins’ message. Focus on the team and individual accolades will happen.

The Bengals (11-0, 3-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference entering Friday’s game at Plainfield North) not only are ranked No. 1 in the Joliet area, they are up to No. 4 in the Sun-Times’ rankings after winning the Pekin Holiday Tournament.

“When we won the Thanksgiving tournament at St. Charles, the Sun-Times put us in their rankings, and that was the first time the kids saw Plainfield East’s name in any of those (ranking) lists,” Adkins said. “They were excited, but we don’t really talk about it. It doesn’t matter, except when we go into the sectional seeding next month, it will help.”

One unavoidable result from a high ranking, though, is the target on the chest.

“It has been a little different for us to be the chasee,” Adkins said. “The kids know they have the ‘X’ on their chest. They do what they can to counteract it; they come in and work hard at practice.”

Adkins called the championship at Pekin “a real good experience. The competition there was good. Overall in the four games, we were able to pressure defensively and that got us out in transition to get some easy baskets.”

The title especially was rewarding to Adkins, who hails from Pekin.

“For me, personally, winning there was something very special,” he said. “Family and friends were there and a lot of teachers I had from high school. People came up and said we have a good team, but they also said positive things about how our kids how carry themselves. That meant a lot.”

In the championship game, the Bengals beat a tall Washington opponent that they fell 15 points behind in the first half. “We came out timid,” Adkins said. “When we decided to play our game, we were able to come out on top.

“We wanted to play well there. We are 1-3, 2-2 and now 4-0 there the last three years. Some say Pekin was one of the top three or four tournaments in the state.”

The 6-foot-9 Bennett and Dee Brown were named to the all-tournament team.

Bennett is averaging 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and is shooting 60.8 percent from the floor and .727 from the free-throw line. He will play at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

Carrying 240 to 245 pounds this season, opposed to the 285 to 290 of a year ago, is paying dividends.

“Brian had to focus nutritionally and from last April on, he was addicted to the weight room,” Adkins said. “He and I and his family sat down and talked after last season, and they decided they had to make a family decision.

“A lot of what Brian is doing now, he is doing individually. It’s nice for him. He is much stronger, has much more lateral movement and carries himself longer now. He is averaging 22-28 minutes. Last year, he played in three-minute spurts and he was winded when the three minutes were up. There has been a huge change in his maturity level.”

Dee Brown, who is averaging 12.8 points, 2.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds, is one of the most talented guards in the area. NCAA Division II and III and NAIA schools are interested, but he is not anticipating making a decision any time soon.

Robinson is the third Bengal averaging in double figures at 10.6. Mack Brown, Straughter, Walters and Harris all have had their moments. Harris missed one shot in scoring 22 points as the Bengals escaped 54-53 at Minooka on Dec. 18.

“In years past, if Dee was not scoring we knew we were going to struggle,” Adkins said. “This year somebody different is stepping up each night. It relieves the pressure from Dee, allows him to go more full force throughout the game when they have to focus on him and everybody else.”

The Bengals’ top five players are the same top five as a year ago. The top eight are seniors. They have grown up together.

“We knew from the time they were on the varsity as sophomores that this class could be something special,” Adkins said.

West at Central

Joliet West left the Pontiac Holiday Tournament disappointed with a 1-2 showing and vowing to do a better job of valuing the basketball. Joliet Central had been playing well but was not happy with a 1-3 finish at the McDipper Tournament at Rich South. The city rivals meet Friday night as West (9-4, 2-1) visits Central (6-6, 2-1) in a key SouthWest Suburban Blue contest.

Will the Tigers take care of the ball and get 6-9 Marlon Johnson involved offensively? Will Central junior Jalen Heath continue his McDipper effort, where he averaged about 15 points?

Other story lines will unfold as the game progresses. It’s an ideal tip-off for the second half of the season.