:quality(70):focal(944x500:954x510)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/IL3QDA6LKJDFTNXDTRI2FI6BE4.jpg)
PLAINFIELD – One thing was certain Tuesday night: Either Joliet West or Plainfield Central was going to record its first Southwest Prairie Conference win of the season.
Both teams entered with one win on the season, and neither team’s win came during conference play.
After the way Joliet West – in particular sophomore guard Gabrielle Gavin – played, it would be hard to convince anyone the Tigers were a one-win team heading into the game.
Paced by a season-high 21 points from Gavin and a hard-nosed defensive effort, Joliet West (2-12, 1-3) rolled to a 54-25 win.
West set the tone early, jumping out to a 9-0 lead. Gavin had five of those points, hitting a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer. In fact, she had at least one 3-pointer in each of the four quarters, finished with five rebounds and directed the Tiger offense from the point.
“I was open at the 3-point line a lot, and my teammates got me the ball,” Gavin said. “If I can keep hitting at least one of those in every quarter, that would be great.
“It feels great to get that first conference win. We are playing together more, and, as my dad says, we are a well-oiled machine. In the second half of the season, I think we are going to keep getting better. Our chemistry is getting better, for sure.
“We wanted to come out tonight with energy and urgency, and we did that. We started strong in every quarter, and we were able to get some points off of the turnovers our defense created.”
Joliet West induced seven turnovers in the first quarter and led 11-5 at the first break. They forced eight Wildcats turnovers in the second quarter and again scored the first nine points of the period en route to a 27-12 halftime lead.
Gavin had seven points in that run, including a 3-pointer. Mia White, who led Plainfield Central (1-10, 0-5) with 13 points, scored five of the Wildcats' seven points in the quarter. Only two other Plainfield Central players scored in the game, as Na’Veyah Junior and Maeve Carlton each scored six. Jennifer Edozie led Central with nine rebounds.
Central got a pair of 3-pointers from White early in the third quarter and was within 32-18. Gavin then banked in a 3-pointer before scoring on a layup. Teammate Makayla Chism (12 points, 11 rebounds) scored in the lane, and Tamia Saunders added a free throw for a 40-18 lead. Carlton ended the third with a three-point play for Central.
Junior scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 40-23, but Gavin hit a 3-pointer to spark a 14-2 run to end the game.
“We have faced a lot of adversity this year,” West coach Breanna Blackmon said. “But the girls are starting to play together and with better chemistry. I have been telling the girls all year that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. If we can keep playing like this, we will have a good second half of the season.
“Gabrielle Gavin, as a sophomore point guard, was outstanding. She runs the offense from the point. For her to get those points really helps us. If she can hit some 3-pointers, then teams can’t pack their defense in to stop Makayla.
“All the girls played well, and they all have their role to play, whether it’s scoring, rebounding or playing tough defense.”
While he didn’t enjoy the result, Central coach Tim Torkelson was more than happy with the effort his team put forth.
“We have been talking about limiting our turnovers all year, but Joliet West is a very aggressive and talented defense,” Torkelson said. “When you are talking about limiting turnovers to 20 in a varsity game, it’s a sign we have to take care of the ball better.
“But I never question the effort I am going to get from these girls. Even in practice, they are working very hard. There are teams that have folded, but our girls never give up”