The Minooka Indians sophomore boys basketball team faced a tough challenge at the Plainfield Central Invitational on Nov. 29, as they dropped a hard-fought game to Plainfield South, 48-41.
The loss, coming after a 35-5 deficit at halftime, was a testament to the team’s resilience, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
“Being down 35-5 at half was a big challenge. The players really had to dig deep to find the mental toughness to keep competing,” said coach Aaron Woods. “It’s tough to come out of a half like that, but they showed a lot of grit. They didn’t give up and really fought back, putting together a strong second half to make it a close game by the final buzzer.”
Logan Lewandowski said he needed to get more of his teammates “involved.”
“A lot of it was about setting up back cuts and trying to lift the energy on the floor. When things aren’t going well, someone has to step up and try to change the flow of the game. I think that’s what I tried to do, but we just didn’t hit the shots we needed in the first half,” Lewandowski said.
Despite the large halftime deficit, Minooka’s defense in the second half was what stood out to Woods. The team came out with increased pressure, forcing turnovers and making life difficult for Plainfield South.
“Our defense in the second half was outstanding,” Woods said “We really pressured the ball and played with a sense of urgency. Everyone was flying around, putting pressure on the ball individually but also working together as a group. It was definitely a big improvement from the first half, and it gave us a chance to make a game of it.”
At one point, a play between Lewandowski and the Plainfield South center looked like it motivated the Minooka team.
“That play was about showing we still had fight in us, even when everyone else thought the game was over. I wanted to show my teammates that we could still push back and make something happen. It was a statement, really, to remind ourselves that we had a chance and we weren’t going to quit. Even if we were down big, we weren’t just going to roll over,” Lewandowski said.
The Indians clawed their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to just 7 points by the final buzzer. However, their struggles at the free-throw line proved costly. Minooka missed 18 free throws in the game, a tough stat to overcome, especially when trying to mount a comeback from such a large deficit.
“We have to work on free throws. Missing 18 free throws in a game, especially when you’re trying to come back, is something that’s hard for any team to recover from. We’re going to put a focus on game-like situations in practice, really pushing the players under pressure so they can get used to those high-stakes moments. That way, the games will feel easier, and we can finish those situations more effectively,” Woods said.
Minooka will stay motivated.
“We remind them that this is just one game in a long season. The season isn’t determined by one win or one loss. We’ve got 30 games to play, and it’s not about how we start but how we finish. We’ll have the opportunity to face Plainfield South again on Jan. 24, and we’ll have plenty of time to improve before we get that chance to test ourselves again,” Woods said.
Despite the loss, Minooka’s second-half performance showed promise, and the team left the floor with a renewed sense of determination. The game might not have gone their way, but their grit and resolve gave them something to build on as they head into the rest of the season.
