By Ryan Ostry
Bugle Staff
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
The Steelmen of Joliet Central never looked back after cruising to a 19-3 first quarter lead en route to a 52-26 win Friday night on the east side of Joliet.
The win was the 300th in the career of coach Lawrence Thompson, Jr.
His wins came at two school’s — Lockport and Joliet Central.
“Trust whoever is working for you is the biggest reason for the success,” Thompson said. “You lay out what you want to have done, and then you trust everyone to do that, you have to stick with it by having patience with yourself and having patience with the kids.”
Central started hot right out of the gate, jumping to an early 11-0 run, with Crete-Monee getting its first bucket at the 2:40 mark in the ball game.
With two key players out of the game for the Steelmen (9-5, 1-1), Thompson knew that the next man up mentality was key for a positive outcome.
“It all starts with Jared King, because he is the leader of our ballclub,” Thompson said. “He tells everyone where to go, calls defenses for us and after [King] made his first couple of baskets, that helped the rest of the guys settle in for the rest of the game.”
Senior guard Demarta Hill-Holmes and junior guard Dakota Joachim were the two men out for the Steelmen on Friday night, but senior forward Keaton Gregory did not miss a beat, leading the Steelmen with a 26-point performance on 8-17 shooting, with seven 3-pointers.
Senior guard Jared King walks the ball up the court en route to a Steelmen victory. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
“[Thompson] gives me the green light to shoot,” Gregory said. “I work on three point shooting a lot, three point shooting and passing I would say is the best aspect of my game, I just try to be myself out there and see what happens,” Gregory said.
With Crete-Monee inching themselves back into the game after a 9-9 second-quarter battle, the Warriors still had a 28-12 deficit heading into halftime.
Gregory and his offensive crew were just a little bit too much for the Warriors, jumping to a 43-17 advantage at the end of the third quarter, led by the high percentage 3-point shooting.
With the win, Central remains undefeated on its home floor.
Crete-Monee (2-12, 0-2) shot a combined 10-52 from the floor Friday night, while committing 16 turnovers.
While the Steelmen were potent on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, one area of concern for coach Thompson was free throw shooting.
Central shot a combined 4-14 from the line.
“Free throws will be high on the list tomorrow,” Thompson said. “I have to take the good with the bad, with the high execution, some time was taken away from the free throw shooting, so we have to find time for everything.”
The Steelmen will be back in action against the Minooka Indians at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Joliet Central.