Team defense, Nolan Lukach in the paint a winning ICE recipe again for Streator against Wilmington

STREATOR – The Streator Bulldogs completed their first run through their 2024-25 Illinois Central Eight Conference schedule undefeated Friday night with a 58-21 handling of visiting Wilmington at Pops Dale Gymansium.

With the way the Bulldogs tamed the Wildcats – limiting Wilmington to 18.9% shooting from the field, outrebounding them 44-20 and leading by double digits from six minutes in onward – its no wonder Streator is 7-0 in the ICE halfway through the conference schedule.

“We were talking about the first three minutes of the game being really important, coming out, hitting some shots and getting a lead so we can be more aggressive on defense,” said Bulldogs leading scorer Nolan Lukach, who put in a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double against the Wildcats.

“We did that tonight.”

In addition to Lukach’s big game – one that saw the 6-4 senior post score the points that put the Bulldogs ahead by 10 points (a banked-in 3 with 1:57 left in the opening quarter), 20 points (another 3 1:45 before halftime) and 30 points (a free throw early in the fourth quarter) – the Bulldogs received plenty of balance even without starting point guard Isaiah Weibel (ankle).

Riley Stevens put in nine points, five rebounds and four steals off the bench; Jake Hagie provided six points including a pair of crowd-pleasing, circus layups; Tristan Finley tallied five points, six rebounds and four assists; Matt Williamson and Joe Hoekstra each had four points; Nolan Ketcham handed out four assists; and Blaize Bressner popped two first-half 3s on his way to six points to go with a pair of steals.

“Before the game we talked about how we were missing Isaiah and how he brings a lot of hustle to the team,” Bressner said. “So as a team, we had to bring that tonight, collectively bring everything that he normally brings to the table. I think we did that fine.”

As a team, Streator – now 12-4 overall to go with its 7-0 ICE record – shot 42.6% from the field. A 6-of-12 first quarter in which Lukach scored 11 points built a Bulldogs advantage that was never truly challenged by Wilmington, which was held to seven first-half points and never managed double digits in any quarter.

In its seven Illinois Central Eight Conference contests, Streator is surrendering just 37.1 points per game. Only Reed-Custer managed to top 50 against the Bulldogs, with four of those opponents held under 40 points, two under 30.

“Our defense has done that for us every game this new year,” said Bulldogs coach Beau Doty. “You look at Lisle, L-P and then tonight. Our kids kind of buy into that, the collective toughness, the preparation. That’s a big thing – they really like to prepare, going over scouting reports, watching film.

“They’re 100% bought in on that, and then when you can score some shots and the ball goes in, it gives you a little bit of extra juice.”

Sixth-man Declan Moran’s five points led Wilmington (12-6 overall, 4-3 ICE), which was 7 of 37 from the field.

The Bulldogs visit former conference rival Morris on Saturday evening, then begin their second trip through the ICE Conference next Tuesday and Friday at home against Herscher and Reed-Custer, respectively.

“We just need to keep sticking to what we do,” Bressner said of the team’s conference rematches. “Bring it on defense and it will come on offense.”

Wilmington hosts a former conference rival of its own, Westmont, on Saturday afternoon.