Joliet Central’s Burrell’s, Buzzer-Beater stuns L-W Central 47-45

In the championship game of the 2018 Lincoln-Way Central Girls’ Thanksgivng Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night, Joliet Central senior, Harmony Burrell, saved her best for last.

Burrell’s last-second basket gave the Steelwomen a 47-45 heart-stopping victory over the host Knights of Lincoln-Way Central. It’s a shame there is no school on Wednesday at Central for all the students who will not be able to admire the beautiful Lincoln Way Central Girls Thanksgiving Championship team trophy that will reside on Jefferson Street in Downtown Joliet.

The Steelwomen were led by All-Tournament Selections 5-foot-1 dynamo, Amoni Strickland and sophomore Jalysa Stokes.  Strickland, poured in 20 points for the Steelwomen and Stokes, added nine points. Senior Annette Hymon chipped in with eight points.

Shannon Smith drops 21 on the Wildcats!
After suffering a heart-breaking 51-48 loss to the hosts from Hinsdale South, on Saturday, Plainfield South head coach, Lincoln DePaula, was hoping his Cougars could bounce back against Neuqua Valley (1-2) on Tuesday night in Darien.

Led by a 21-point explosion from senior Shannon Smith, Plainfield South (2-1), slipped past the Wildcats 56-51. Sophomore Aniya Mabry chipped in with 16 points for the victorious Cougars.

Downers Grove North reached the .500 (2-2) mark with the hard-fought win over the Tigers. The Trojans were led by seniors Julia Kramper and Jaylen Harris.