Analysis: Wolves Use Defense, Clutch Threes to Turn Game Around in 2nd Half

With Minooka slowing down the pace and playing solid team defense, Oswego East found itself in unfamiliar territory Friday night. For a team with multiple weapons on offense, the Wolves were struggling mightily to score.

First came a four-point first quarter that saw the visiting Indians take a 9-4 lead. Then came an eight-point “outburst” in the second quarter, but even by doubling their first-quarter total, the hosts Wolves had just a dozen points and trailed Minooka by six at the half.

But the home fans had no need to worry as the Wolves turned up the defensive pressure in the second half. The result was an 18-6 third quarter that turned the tide and led Oswego East to a 35-32 victory that resembled more of a football score than the Wolves’ normal 60- to 70-point tallies.

“Not since our first year when we had no seniors,” Oswego East coach Jason Buckley said when asked if any of his team’s have ever scored as few as 12 points in a half. “But I can pretty much guarantee we did it then.”

Senior Sean Gant, who led the way with nine points for Oswego East, sank a three-pointer that gave the hosts a 20-18 lead in the third quarter. He said it’s the Wolves’ defense that helps get the offense rolling. That certainly was the case in the third quarter when seven turnovers helped do in Minooka.

 “It was a little rough but we got it done,” Gant said of the slow start. “Defense is what starts our offense. We pressured them up there and we got stops and we came down and had fast breaks. We knew we were struggling a bit, but we talked at halftime about coming out strong and forgetting about the first half.”

The Wolves’ defense may have led to some nice transition buckets, but Oswego East also shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc in that decisive third quarter. Minooka coach Scott Tanaka could only tip his hat afterward.

 “They were on fire there in the third,” he said. “You can’t stop those types of shots.  When they knock down big shots you have to give them credit.”

Extra Points 

Senior steps up: Getting a rare start on senior night, Wolves guard Adam Reaves came up big against the Indians on Friday. The 6-foot-1-inch Reaves buried two crucial three-pointers in his team’s big third quarter, the second one breaking a 20-20 tie.

“Every shot was huge tonight because of the nature of the game,” Buckley said. “Adam really stepped up. He got an opportunity to start on senior night and he made the most of it.”

Grant ready for playoffs: Oswego East’s Sean Gant liked the way his team played in the second half against the Indians. Now he wants to see them play a full game the same way and what better time to start with the regionals about to open on Feb. 28? 

 “We just need to take that second half and play that way through the full game,” said Gant, whose Wolves will open play at the Glenbard East Regional against Glenbard West. “I want to get another regional championship.”