The Lincoln-Way West boys basketball team (8-6) rebounded from a tough stretch with a commanding 58-35 road victory over Plainfield Central on Saturday, Jan. 4. The win came after a challenging few days for the Warriors, which included a 76-49 loss to DeKalb and a hard-fought victory over Manley in the Christmas Tournament.
The Warriors entered the holiday break with momentum, defeating Manley 78-61 on Wednesday, Dec. 25, in round two of their Christmas Tournament. The win, which improved the Warriors’ record to 7-4, was marked by a strong team effort. Twelve players scored, with senior guard Wyatt Carlson leading the charge, putting up 28 points to propel the Warriors into the tournament semi-finals.
However, the Warriors’ momentum was halted just two days later on Dec. 27, as they fell to DeKalb 76-49. The loss dropped Lincoln-Way West to 7-5, as they struggled to match DeKalb’s scoring punch. Despite the defeat, the team’s ability to bounce back was on full display just a week later.
On Jan. 4, the Warriors showed their resilience in their non-conference matchup against Plainfield Central. Carlson again led the way, scoring 19 points in the victory. The win also saw a balanced offensive attack, as seven other players contributed to the scorebook. The Warriors’ defense was solid throughout the game, limiting Plainfield Central to just 35 points and securing a comfortable win to snap a two-game losing streak.
“This win was huge for us,” said head coach Tanner Mitchell. “We had a tough couple of games but the team came together and executed well on both ends of the floor today. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on this performance as we head into the heart of the season.”
The Warriors will now look to build on this momentum as they head into conference play and prepare for their next challenge. With a strong group of contributors and a leader like Carlson, Lincoln-Way West is poised to be a force in the remainder of the season.