It’s been a terrific basketball season in Joliet. West and Central entered Saturday’s crosstown rivalry game a combined 42-6, both teams are in the Super 25 and have high hopes for March.
Joliet hoops fans have caught the fever. Even the crazy beautiful weather couldn’t keep them away from the old gym in downtown Joliet. A near capacity crowd jammed into the huge gym, the most fans at a Joliet basketball game since the tail end of the Joliet Township glory years in the early 2000’s.
The game came down to the final shot. Central’s Don Joachim missed a difficult three-point attempt right before the buzzer and West won 51-49. The victory seals up the Southwest Prairie title for the Tigers.
Senior forward Trevian Bell was the hero for Joliet West down the stretch. He scored eight of his 15 points in the fourth quarter. His post bucket with 1:09 to play gave the Tigers the lead at 48-47 and then he sank 3 of 4 free throws in the final 36 seconds to provide the winning margin.
Bell was also the Tigers’ leading rebounder with seven boards. West was beaten 36-24 on the boards by the much smaller Steelmen.
The first half was scrappy. Joliet West (22-3) led 39-33 after three quarters but Jason Bingham came alive to open the fourth. Bingham, who has played at both schools, opened the fourth with eight consecutive points to put the Steelmen (21-4) ahead 43-39.
Senior Jose Grubbs led Central with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Bingham finished with 15 points and eight boards.
Eddie Creal scored 12 and grabbed six boards for the Tigers and Elijah Ward added eight points.
The teams could possibly meet again in the sectional semifinals in March.