Boys Basketball: Season full of key moments

Updated: March 13, 2012 7:20PM

Plainfield East and Providence won regional championships while Lemont and Minooka won over the skeptics.

Joliet West and Bolingbrook showed flashes of dominance while Lockport and Morris were steady, not flashy.

Plainfield Central and Plainfield North had to struggle for victories yet still strove for improvement during a trying season.

And Edvinas Presniakovas scored from everywhere on the floor in Ken Bublitz’s final season as Plainfield South’s basketball coach.

The 2011-12 season is over for Joliet-area teams, leaving behind wins to relive and losses to rewind during the offseason. Here’s a month-by-month recap of some of the highlights:

November

Lockport was a perfect 3-0 in the WJOL Thanksgiving Tournament. ... After victories over then-Sun-Times-ranked teams St. Charles North and Downers Grove South, Plainfield East beat Schaumburg to win the St. Charles East Tournament. ... Lincoln-Way Central went 3-1 behind Lewis-bound Brad Foster and Johnny Finnin.

December

Plainfield East began an undefeated Southwest Prairie Conference season with a 30-point victory over Oswego. ... Joliet Central went to overtime to win SouthWest Suburban Blue opener over Lincoln-Way East. ... Lemont won the Knights/Warriors Winter Classic at Lincoln-Way Central. ... Plainfield Central won large school title game at Romeoville Christmas Classic behind eight three-pointers from Zach Warner. ... Plainfield East claimed the Pekin Tournament title, defeating Thornridge, Peoria Richwoods, Morton and Washington. ... Jay Yancy earned MVP as Lincoln-Way East won its second straight Medieval Classic title.

January

Bolingbrook beat previously undefeated Glenbard West in overtime. ... Romeoville defeated 2011 Southwest Prairie champion Plainfield South. ... Danny Friend scored 23 points as Morris raised its record to 10-5 with 67-58 victory over Kaneland. ... Joliet Catholic’s Ryan Peter had 26 points in 52-41 win over Aurora Central Catholic. ... Junior point guards Juozas Balciunas, of Lemont, and Kevin Kozan, of Providence, stood out in first meeting, a 70-65 Indians’ victory. ... Joliet West beat Lockport 49-48 in a game described as “tough basketball” by West coach Luke Yaklich.

February

Presniakovas, Plainfield South’s versatile 6-foot-3 senior, scored a career-high 33 points in the 85-81 overtime win over Plainfield North. ... Lockport claimed a thrilling 52-50 win over SouthWest Blue leader Homewood-Flossmoor on a baseline floater by Courtney Cole. ... Lincoln-Way East hit 12 three-pointers in 68-63 victory over SouthWest Blue rival Joliet West. Lemont’s Balciunas had 31 points in 75-66 victory over Tinley Park. ... Balanced Bolingbrook secured second place in SouthWest Blue with 72-64 victory at Joliet West. ... Plainfield East won Southwest Prairie title outright. ... Jimmy David’s 22 points led Seneca’s 59-34 Class 2A regional semifinal win over Reed-Custer.

March

Plainfield East senior Jawan Straughter wore a game net around his neck after the Bengals won their first regional title, 47-45 over Class 4A host Neuqua Valley. Dee Brown led all scorers with 17 points while center Brian Bennett added 15 points and 10 rebounds. ... Providence won its Class 3A regional title game 63-53 over Lemont with Pat Sullivan, Frank Palmasani and Walter Downing among the crowd who saw Kozan’s game-high 23 points. ... Miles Boykin chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds and Mike Marietti 17 points and seven rebounds.

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