MM_070617

38 | July 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
Central returners, additions wrap up summer league
Knights to return
several starters
Frank Gogola
Freelance Reporter
Lincoln-Way Central and
Lincoln-Way East have
different holes to fill this
upcoming season, as the
Knights have to replace
their guards and the Griffins
need to revamp their frontcourt.
The district rivals closed
their summer evaluation,
as Central fell to East 57-
49 during the final day of
South Suburban Summer
League competition on
Thursday, June 29, in New
Lenox.
Central used the summer
league to begin to find a new
lineup after the graduation
of guards Aaron Michalak
and Bryan Ross. Michalak
made the Team 22 second
team, averaging 13.7 points,
4 rebounds and 3 assists per
game. Ross was a Team 22
honorable mention.
Senior Chris Robinson,
a Team 22 honorable mention,
is expected to take the
reins in the backcourt after
earning one of three guard
spots during last season.
He had six points, four rebounds
and a steal against
East, as he continues his development
as the main ball
handler.
“I feel I can be more aggressive
at times,” Robinson
said. “With [Michalak
and Ross], I could rely on
them. We’ve still got guys
where I don’t have to bring
the ball up every time. Now,
just try to control the pace,
control the tempo. Get to
the basket more and create
for my teammates.”
Central also returns starting
senior forwards Andrew
Hancock, a Team 22 honorable
mention, and Jake
Blount. Both primarily
baseball players, they didn’t
play against East.
The Knights’ big addition
is senior forward E.J.
Charles, an East transfer
last school year who has
returned to the hardwood
after last playing as a freshman.
Against East, he had
10 points between layups,
free throws and 3-pointers.
He added 10 rebounds and
two blocks.
“He’s going to make a
huge difference for us,”
Central coach Bob Curran
said. “He handles the ball.
He’s a good shooter. He can
get to the basket. What I
like the most is he’s going
to be by far our best defender.
We’ve struggled having
that one guy who can stop
other teams’ best player.
He’s putting a smile on our
face right now.”
The Griffins, on the other
hand, have to replace graduated
forwards Dorian Aluyi
and Max Shafer. Aluyi was
named to the Team 22 first
team, averaging 14 points
and 4 rebounds per game.
Shafer was a Team 22 honorable
mention.
For East coach Rich Kolimas,
standout replacements
have been sophomore Sean
McLaughlin, who had four
points and four rebounds
against Central, and junior
Alex Witkowski, who had
four rebounds. Nate Seputis,
a 6-foot-9 post player who
didn’t play against Central,
has potential. All three
would be first-year varsity
players.
“Max and Dorian provided
great stability, great
defense, screening, so that’s
what we’ve been looking
for in our younger guys,”
Kolimas said. “We’re trying
to get some continuity with
some of the younger players
and get them some experience.
What we’re also looking
for in the summer is individual
development.
“Sean McLaughlin is
a big guy and has played
well for us. Junior Alex
Witkowski is a kid who has
really come on. He’s utilized
this summer to take
advantage of some guys
not being at camp and has
really grown and matured.
He’s willing to do all those
little things for us, like set
screens and rebound the
ball.”
East already knows what
it has on the perimeter and
is expecting guard play to
be its strong suit with returning
seniors Sam Shafer,
Zach Parduhn and Joey
Buggemi. Shafer made the
Team 22 first team, and
Parduhn and Buggemi were
honorable mentions.
Against Central, Parduhn
scored a team-high 18 points
with three rebounds and
three steals. Buggemi added
13 points and six rebounds.
Shafer did not play, as he
was out being recruited by
Division I schools, Kolimas
said.
Junior guard Julian Barr
added 11 points and is expected
to be one of the first
players off the bench with a
loaded guard position.
“He can really score,”
Parduhn said. “When he
heats up, he can score as
good as anyone on our team.
Coming off the bench, if
we can get some scoring
from him it’s a huge boost
for us.”
In the summer league finale,
the Griffins closed the
game on a 12-4 run after a tie
game with 7:10 to play. Barr
scored a basket, and Parduhn
converted a four-point play
to put East up 51-45 with
5:01 left. McLaughlin and
Parduhn scored baskets on
back-to-back possessions to
put East ahead 55-45 with
3:50 to play.
Central’s Joel Veihl looks to take a shot Thursday, June 29, while East’s Alex Witkowski
defends. Photos by Bob Klein/22nd Century Media
Luke Handley drives to the basket.
East held Central scoreless
for 4:25 during the 10-0
run. Charles’ rebound and
fast break layup to pull the
Knights within 55-47 with
2:45 left was their first basket
since guard Luke Handley
(team-high 16 points)
converted a technical free
throw to tie the game 45-45
with 7:10 remaining.
The Knights had trailed
45-31 with 14:30 to play before
they went on a 14-0 run.
The comeback largely came
with the Griffins’ starters on
the bench. During the 14-0
run, Handley scored seven
points, Charles had five
points, and Nathan Purcell
added two points.