A three-game losing streak had the Oswego High School boys basketball team trying to find itself this week.
The Panthers found themselves hosting District 308 and Southwest Prairie Conference foe Oswego East in front of nearly 1,500 fans Friday at Oswego.
Oswego also found its best defensive effort of the season during a 62-53 victory.
“That was our best defensive effort of the season,” Oswego coach Kevin Schnable said, while recovering from a torn achillies.
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The win puts Oswego at 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the SPC. Oswego East is 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the league.
“All the coaches talked about giving 100 percent effort and not taking a break on defense,” Oswego senior forward Ryan West said. “That’s what we did tonight. Defense wins championships and all of us bought into that philosophy tonight.”
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West posted a double double of 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Miles Simelton topped all scorers with 20 points and had the defensive assignment of covering Oswego East senior point guard, C.J. Vaughan.
C.J. Vaughan led the team with eight rebounds, but had just six points and three assists.
“They did a great job, no doubt about it,” Oswego East coach Jason Buckley said. “Oswego’s a great team and they were ranked in the preseason for a reason.”
“This game was huge for us,” West said. “Overall, we stuck together as a unit and played one heckuva game out there offensively and defensively.”
Ken Battle Jr. led the Wolves with 16 points and five assists. Stokes added 14 points and seven boards and Nick Marema was the third player in double figures for the Wolves with 12 points.
Elliot McGaughy had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Oswego, which was outrebounded 38-25.
