Joliet West's Ryan Lipke leads resurgence as Tigers take down Plainfield East behind standout play from several contributors.
The Joliet West basketball team is on a tear, having knocked off host Plainfield East 76-61 in a highly anticipated matchup. Senior Ryan Lipke was instrumental in the Tigers' victory, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while making 2 of 3 three-pointers. The 6-7 forward has rapidly improved over the course of the season, evolving from bench player to impactful starter.
Coach Jeremy Kreiger praised Lipke's versatility, saying he "offers to step out and make threes while also commanding the paint." With a shooting percentage of 43% from beyond the arc on high volume, Lipke is a force to be reckoned with. The improvement was largely mental for Lipke, who credited his adjustment to the new culture and coaches as key factors.
The win marked a turning point for Joliet West, which had significantly improved since the Pontiac Holiday Tournament in December. While Plainfield East's KJ Miller scored 26 points, including a three-pointer with 4:33 left, it was not enough to overcome the Tigers' strong defensive effort and balanced offense.
Senior guard Deven Triplett led Joliet West with 21 points and six rebounds, while Aamir Shannon added 20 points and seven rebounds. The team's out-rebounded Plainfield East 33-24, showcasing their improved overall performance.
Coach Kreiger attributed the win to the team's ability to stay focused on their principles, particularly in the second half when they were not making the shots they did in the first half. Joliet West shot 10-for-23 from three-point range and limited Plainfield East to fewer scoring opportunities.
The victory has propelled Joliet West into contention for a Class 4A sectional title, where they will face stiff competition from teams like Marist, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lockport, and Rich. With Lipke and other contributors leading the way, the Tigers are poised to make a deep run in the state tournament.
The Joliet West basketball team is on a tear, having knocked off host Plainfield East 76-61 in a highly anticipated matchup. Senior Ryan Lipke was instrumental in the Tigers' victory, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while making 2 of 3 three-pointers. The 6-7 forward has rapidly improved over the course of the season, evolving from bench player to impactful starter.
Coach Jeremy Kreiger praised Lipke's versatility, saying he "offers to step out and make threes while also commanding the paint." With a shooting percentage of 43% from beyond the arc on high volume, Lipke is a force to be reckoned with. The improvement was largely mental for Lipke, who credited his adjustment to the new culture and coaches as key factors.
The win marked a turning point for Joliet West, which had significantly improved since the Pontiac Holiday Tournament in December. While Plainfield East's KJ Miller scored 26 points, including a three-pointer with 4:33 left, it was not enough to overcome the Tigers' strong defensive effort and balanced offense.
Senior guard Deven Triplett led Joliet West with 21 points and six rebounds, while Aamir Shannon added 20 points and seven rebounds. The team's out-rebounded Plainfield East 33-24, showcasing their improved overall performance.
Coach Kreiger attributed the win to the team's ability to stay focused on their principles, particularly in the second half when they were not making the shots they did in the first half. Joliet West shot 10-for-23 from three-point range and limited Plainfield East to fewer scoring opportunities.
The victory has propelled Joliet West into contention for a Class 4A sectional title, where they will face stiff competition from teams like Marist, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lockport, and Rich. With Lipke and other contributors leading the way, the Tigers are poised to make a deep run in the state tournament.
and i think it's awesome that his mental approach has paid off so much - adjusting to new coaches and culture can be tough, but it's clear he's stepped up his game. the win against Plainfield East was huge for their chances of getting into the sectional title mix, and i'm curious to see how they'll do against some tougher teams in the playoffs 
They're on fire and Ryan Lipke is the reason why 
. The guy's got skills for days, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while making those clutch threes. And it's not just him, the whole team is bringing their A-game. Deven Triplett and Aamir Shannon are killing it too 
. They've got this newfound confidence and it's paying off in a big way. And with Lipke leading the charge, they're definitely gonna make some noise in the Class 4A sectional title game 
.
Deven Triplett and Aamir Shannon are also killing it with their scoring and rebounding skills 
coach Kreiger must be doing something right to get the team so focused in the second half 
now they're a legit contender for that sectional title 
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. i'm not saying he's not contributing, but let's keep things in perspective here. Deven Triplett and Aamir Shannon are also doing just fine, leading the team with points. maybe they're more well-rounded than Lipke? 
6-7 forward is like a diamond in the rough i mean lipke was bench player last yr but now he's the one leading the charge 
what's ur take on joliet wests chances of makin it to that final? 
right now! He's like a totally different player from last season, which is awesome to see. The fact that he's taking 3-pointers with such high success rate (43% 
The win at Plainfield East was huge for Joliet West and now they're looking strong to make a deep run in the state tournament. It's gonna be interesting to see how they do against some of the top teams like Marist and Homewood-Flossmoor... 
! The way they worked together as a team, using their strengths to outmaneuver Plainfield East... it was beautiful to watch 
. Coach Kreiger must be doing something right, the Tigers are on a roll now 
. Can't wait to see what the rest of the season holds for them 
I'm super hyped about their chances for a Class 4A sectional title 
, especially with players like Lipke, Deven Triplett, and Aamir Shannon leading the charge. Their team effort is really paying off, and it's awesome to see them stay focused on their principles even when things aren't going as planned 
, and I'm so here for it! 
. and don't get me started on the opposing team's coach saying it was a "culture" thing for lipke's improvement