Sports
Plainfield North, Bolstered by Krieger's Return, Tops Minooka
Plainfield North 48, Minooka 47. The Tigers welcome back standout senior Jack Krieger from an eight-game absence with a Senior Night win Thursday.
The Hot Read: Plainfield North standout senior Jack Krieger returned from an eight-game absence due to a broken thumb to help lead the Tigers to a 48-47 win over Minooka in the boys basketball regular-season finale for both teams on Thursday night. Krieger scored the game-winner on a layup and free throw with 51 seconds left. The Tigers’ defense tightened from there, as two Plainfield North fouls and three Minooka timeouts left only 5.1 seconds on the clock for a final shot. Minooka sophomore Darrin Myer had a clean look at the basket from three-point range, but the shot was off, giving the Tigers the win on their Senior Night.
Patch’s MVP: Krieger energized the crowd when he was announced in the starting lineup, and wound up posting 10 points, five rebounds and three steals in his return. The Tigers went 1-7 without him.
Key Stats: Minooka shot well enough from the field (18-of-35) and wound up even on the boards with Plainfield North, but after going 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the first half, the Indians never made a return trip to the stripe. Plainfield North forced 16 turnovers, 10 of them steals.
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Minooka Leaders: Adam Reynolds (16 points), Ben Heide (14 points), Lavell Dean (10 points, 6 rebounds).
Plainfield North Leaders: Marcus Fair (13 points), Krieger (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals), Jeremy Bert (8 points).
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Quotable: “We were just looking to play some solid defense, and it did pay off,” Plainfield North coach Nick DiForti said of the final play. “They ran a great play at the end and got the shot off, but it just didn’t go it. We squeaked it out at the end. We were down most of the game, if not all of the game, but a win’s a win.”
Team Records: Minooka (9-19 overall, 2-12 Southwest Prairie), Plainfield North (15-13 overall, 5-9 Southwest Prairie).
What’s Next: Minooka finds itself placed in the Moline Sectional and is the fifth of five seeds at the Bradley-Bourbonnais Regional. The Indians will face Bradley at 7:30 p.m. Monday for the right to play top-seeded Normal Wednesday. Plainfield North is the No. 13 seed at the East Aurora Sectional and faces No. 20 seed Downers Grove North at 6 p.m. Monday in the quarterfinals of the Bolingbrook Regional. The winner will take on fourth-seeded East Aurora Tuesday.
