Friday, January 14, 2011
Wildcats senior Derrick Marks scores 28 points and eclipses the 1,000-point mark for his career in Central's 55-52 win.
It's hard to blame Plainfield Central’s boys basketball team if it were having flashbacks during the fourth quarter Friday night. The host Wildcats raced to a 23-5 lead against Minooka, then hung on down the stretch to post a 55-52 victory. Plainfield Central improved to 13-4 overall and 3-2 in the Southwest Prairie Conference. Minooka, a week after knocking off league leader Oswego 72-54, dropped to 8-6, 1-4. “We came out real intense, aggressive, made some shots, our defense was there and guys came off the bench to make some plays,” Plainfield Central coach Steve Lamberti said. “Whether we want to admit it or not, we relaxed, and Minooka’s going to battle you. They beat up on Oswego last week.” “Oswego is probably the best team in our …
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Plainfield High School - Central Campus
24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL
/articles/boys-basketball-plainfield-central-starts-fast-hangs-on-vs-minooka
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Bolingbrook's Ariel Massengale looks to become the first area McDonald's All-American since Candace Parker in 2004.
Being named a McDonald’s All-American is one of the highest honors that a high school basketball player can achieve. For local athletes who are among the 2,000 nominees for the boys and girls game this year, however, the honor would be even sweeter. For the first time since 1982, the game will be played in Chicago, on March 30 at the United Center. And there are area athletes with a legitimate shot at earning that honor. At the top of that list has to be Bolingbrook senior Ariel Massengale, who has committed to play for Pat Summitt at Tennessee. Raiders teammates Falon Edwards (committed to Southern Illinois) and Taylor Tuck (Illinois) are also among the 77 total Illinois nominees between the boys and girls lists. On the boys side, the …
Friday, January 7, 2011
Sports writer Paul Johnson ranks to the top area boys basketball teams from 1-5, plus a short list of the next best.
1. Benet (14-0): Redwings survived overtime against H-F to win the coveted Proviso West tournament crown behind tourney MVP Dave Sobolewski. 2. Neuqua Valley (13-0): Wildcats survived a scare against host Elgin, but won the Elgin tourney to stay unbeaten. Ryan Boatright and East Aurora come calling Saturday. 3. Downers Grove South (11-3): Mustangs rolled through the field at York to win a tough tournament crown. 4. Plainfield North (11-4): Tigers reached the semifinals at the prestigious Pontiac tournament before dropping their final two games to Warren and Lockport. 5. Plainfield Central (11-3): Derrick Marks has the Wildcats creeping into the picture by helping Central win the final Lemont tournament. Next best (in alphabetical order): …
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Neuqua Valley High School
2360 95th St, Naperville, IL
/articles/hoops-these-guys-are-flying-high-4
239530
/locations/2972072
Thursday, December 30, 2010
MVP Marks pushes Plainfield Central past Raby in championship game.
LEMONT—Plainfield Central became the most successful Class AA/large school team in the history of the Lemont Christmas Classic by beating Chicago Raby 69-59 in the championship game of the 33rd and final tournament Thursday night at Lemont High School. The Wildcats (11-3) captured their fourth tournament title, all of which were won in the last eight years. Only Class A/small school Providence Catholic has more (six). "We had three goals—to win the last game of our 10-game excursion, the last game of this tournament, the last game of this year and the last game ever in this tournament," Plainfield Central coach Steve Lamberti said after winning his first Lemont Christmas Classic. "The kids were motivated by that. We've won a bunch of …
41.6752
-87.99226
800 Porter St, Lemont, IL
/articles/wildcats-leave-indelible-mark-on-lemont-christmas-classic
/locations/2915189
Wildcats face Chicago Raby at 8 p.m. Thursday in the final title game at the Lemont Christmas Classic.
LEMONT – The Plainfield Central boys basketball team mounted a furious comeback to reach the championship game of the Lemont Christmas Classic via a 46-42 victory over Reavis Wednesday night in the large-school final. Plainfield Central (11-3) will take on Chicago Raby (10-3) at 8 p.m. Thursday in a battle of No. 1 seeds and the tournament's swan song. After 33 years, the Lemont Christmas Classic will be no more after Thursday. "I was joking around with the guys, we took a crazy route to get here today," Plainfield Central coach Steve Lamberti said of the bus ride from Plainfield to Lemont High School. "We are where we want to be, where we expected to be and we're proud we have a chance to play for the final title here. We hope the game …
41.603154
-88.207772
Plainfield High School - Central Campus
24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL
/articles/plainfield-central-uses-late-surge-to-top-reavis
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/locations/2903771
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wildcats beat the Orland Park high school 44-43 to reach Lemont large-school final.
LEMONT – If there are basketball Gods, they were smiling on the Plainfield Central boys basketball team during the final seconds of a 44-43 victory over Sandburg Tuesday in the Lemont Christmas Classic large-school semifinal. Justin Scanlan's layup from Derrick Marks' feed with 25.4 seconds left proved to be the game-winner as the Wildcats (10-3) advance to face Reavis (9-2) in the large-school final at 9 p.m. Wednesday. "We didn't shoot the ball well (44.7 percent), we were horrendous from the free throw line (39.1 percent), we turned the ball over too many times (15) and we are 2-0 in the tournament," Plainfield Central coach Steve Lamberti said. "We knew it was going to be a battle, and the game could have gone either way." Sandburg's …
41.603154
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Plainfield High School - Central Campus
24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL
/articles/basketball-gods-shine-on-plainfield-central
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/locations/2892687
Derrick Marks, big third quarter are the catalysts for top-seeded Wildcats at the Lemont Christmas Classic.
LEMONT—The Plainfield Central High School boys basketball team closed the first day of the final Lemont Christmas Classic on Monday evening with a big second half en route to a 56-39 romp of Argo. No. 1 seed Plainfield Central (9-3) blew open a 1-point game with a 19-0 run to advance to a large-school semifinal game against No. 4 Sandburg (5-4) at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday. "We knew we were in for a battle," Plainfield Central coach Steve Lamberti said. "The great thing about this tournament is there are no state championship teams and no bad teams. Everybody's got a chance to win a championship. Thankfully, we're one of the last four big schools and last eight schools to have a shot at winning a championship." "This is the last tournament and we …
41.6752
-87.99226
800 Porter St, Lemont, IL
/articles/defense-paves-way-for-plainfield-centrals-rout-of-argo
/locations/2881563
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Senior's 17 points power Wildcats past Immaculate Conception 54-50 at Waubonsie boys basketball tournament.
AURORA – One of the characteristics of a good team is its ability to win when it's not firing on all cylinders. Plainfield Central was not at its best against Immaculate Conception during the third round of the Warrior Christmas Classic Wednesday afternoon at Waubonsie Valley. However, it did feature a spark plug named Derrick Marks. The 6-foot-3 senior guard had 17 points and four steals during the Wildcats' 54-50 victory. The Wildcats play a team yet to be determined at 5:45 p.m. Thursday in the final round of the eight-team tournament. Senior Justin Scanlan added 13 points and junior Andre Norris chipped in 11 for the Wildcats (7-3). "It wasn't one of our best performances," Scanlan said. "But good teams find ways to get it done." "…
41.603154
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Plainfield High School - Central Campus
24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL
/articles/marks-a-spark-during-plainfield-centrals-victory
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/locations/2837753
Monday, December 20, 2010
Marks scores 22 points, but Wildcats drop tourney opener to Brooks Prep.
Plainfield Central had to wait a little longer to get a good look at Brooks Prep Academy, but once the game finally started the Wildcats were mighty impressed. Brooks Prep, a Chicago team boasting plenty of size, speed and talent, jumped out 9-0 even after traffic and bad weather caused the Eagles’ bus to arrive about 2 hours late for first-round action at the Matt Laurich Warrior Boys Christmas Classic at Waubonsie Valley. Brooks (4-1) went on to win 72-62, but not before the Wildcats' Derrick Marks and his teammates flashed plenty of size, speed and talent of their own. After falling in that early 9-0 hole, Plainfield Central (5-3) drew even at 11-11 after one quarter and even took a brief 13-11 lead in the second quarter following a …
41.603154
-88.207772
Plainfield High School - Central Campus
24120 W Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL
/articles/plainfield-central-boys-fall-short-at-warrior-classic
280020
/locations/2816590
Friday, December 17, 2010
Panthers score final eight points to beat Wildcats 64-63 in boys basketball barn-burner on Friday night.
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Friday, December 17, 2010
PLAINFIELD – Plainfield Central failed to score on its last six possessions and Josh Oros hit a layup off a pass from Elliot McGaughy with 10.0 seconds left to lift the Panthers to an improbable 65-64 Southwest Prairie Conference boys basketball victory over the Wildcats on Friday night. Oswego scored the final eight points to remain unbeaten at 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the SPC. Plainfield Central fell to 4-2 and 2-1. "We stole this one," Oswego coach Kevin Schnable said. "We showed heart, we kept competing, we didn't stop believing and we played ball." "Offensive rebounding and turnovers," Plainfield Central coach Steve Lamberti said, citing reasons for the Wildcats' collapse. "From the start to the end, if you don't win the rebounding and …
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Oswego East High School
1525 Harvey Rd, Oswego, IL
/articles/oswego-pulls-victory-from-jaws-of-defeat-against-plainfield-central
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/locations/2784300
Doc Conklin
10:54 pm on Friday, January 14, 2011
Finally A good & timely report on local sports. Thankyou & keep up the good work. DOC. CONKLIN more ›