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the mokena messenger | November 27, 2019 | 37
Junior core gives Knights reasons for optimism
STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor
Lincoln-Way Central
coach Bob Curran knows
there are things to work
on, ways for his team to
improve and be ready for a
big season.
But as preseason practices
heated up, Curran
also saw a talented group
that is certainly more in
sync than most teams are
in November.
“We’re so much further
along right now than
we’ve ever been,” Curran
said. “We got, I think,
95 percent of our scoring
back from last year. So,
that’s a good place to start.
“We have weaknesses.
They’re juniors, they’re
still not as strong as they’ll
be when they’re seniors.
At the same time, I’ve
been in battle with these
kids for a long time and
I kind of know what they
can and can’t do.”
The Knights will be
built around four junior
guards with a ton of varsity
experience. The coach’s
son, Sean Curran, was the
leading scorer last season,
when Central went 15-16.
Nick Tingley, and twins
Matt and Mike Maloney,
also also back.
All four averaged near
or above double-digits in
scoring last season.
“Most of us have been
playing together four or
five years, so we know
how play off each other
and we’re all really competitive,”
he said. “It’s super
fun.
“I think we’re going to be
able to spread the floor and
shoot the ball, and we’re
going to be able to run out
in transition. Our main focus
in practice has been defense.
I think we’re going
Lincoln-Way Central guard Nick Tingley looks to make a pass in a recent practice.
Tingley is one of several juniors expected to lead the Knights this season.
STEVE MILLAR/22nd Century Media
to be highly improved on
the defensive end.”
Sean Curran said his
dad has been harping on
defense and rebounding in
practice, and the Knights
know those are their main
areas to seek improvement.
“We have some guys
that can score the ball,”
he said. “We’re not physically
all there yet. I think
defense and rebounding
will be the most important
things. I don’t think we’re
going to have problems
scoring.”
The Knights have set
their first goal at improving
on last season. If they
can get to that point, Matt
Maloney said, they will
start thinking about a conference
title and beyond.
“Last year, was a solid
season,” Tingley said. “We
played hard, we had good
leadership. This year, some
new guys have to step up,
everyone has to play their
role and we should have
success.”
Central will lean heavily
on another junior, 6-foot-7
James Ogrodnik, to be an
inside presence.
“We’re going to be
counting on him a lot,” Bob
Curran said. “We really
need big things from him.”
Sean Michalak and
George Burchfield are the
only two seniors on the
roster and will be looked
to for leadership.
Junior Ryan Kraft has
varsity experience, while
juniors Joe Barrett, Richie
LaCien and Cam Newkirk
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could make an impact in
their first varsity season.
“The big things for us
are playing with each
other, sharing the ball, and
then just growing defensive
every day,” Bob Curran
said. “We have to keep
getting stronger, getting in
the weight room.
“I think they’re competitive
kids, they’re going
to battle. We have a tough
schedule, so they’re going
to be tested.”
Tingley knows there is
one thing they will be able
to count on.
“Team chemistry,” he
said. “That is definitely
there. We can help each
other, and push each other
to strengthen the aspects
we need to strengthen to
be successful.”
Boys basketball
Griffins seek success
with size, skill, speed
STEVE MILLAR, Sports Editor
Excitement bubbles
over when Lincoln-Way
East junior guard Jhei-R
Jones discusses the 2019-
20 Griffins.
“I feel like we’re going
to be really good this season,”
he said. “If everyone
plays their role and does
their part, and if everyone
competes, I feel like we
can really go somewhere.”
Jones was arguably the
Griffins’ best player as a
sophomore last season,
earning All-SouthWest
Suburban Blue honors and
getting used to being a goto
scorer as East finished
14-17.
“[Jones] will have a lot
to say about the success of
the team,” East coach Rich
Kolimas said. “He started
as a sophomore, gaining
valuable experience at running
the team.”
Jones agreed that he is
more prepared to play his
role after last year’s experience.
“I feel like I can help
others and be a good leader,”
he said.
Jones will have help in
the backcourt from seniors
Ty Slager and Matt Wasso,
who are strong shooters.
Inside, the Griffins boast
plenty of experience and
size, led by 6-foot-9 senior
forward Nate Seputis,
6-foot-8 senior center Sean
McLaughlin – a Northwestern
football recruit
– and 6-foot-5 forward senior
Ryan Sierocki.
Kolimas, who said Sierocki
“had a terrific summer,”
hopes that trio can help
control the boards for East.
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Seputis thinks the Griffins
will be dangerous
because of the different
things their big men can
do.
“I feel like it’ll be a big
mismatch for other teams,”
he said. “Our bigs can
stretch the floor out and
shoot it, as well as score on
our own in the post. I feel
like we can affect the game
on many levels.
“I don’t think other
teams can match up to
our versatility. We have
so much skill at each position,
so I think we can
have success if we keep
working hard.”
Junior guards Ryan Sucha
and Cameron Mallory
are athletic players who
Kolimas said must make
major contributions for the
Griffins to have success.
Jones and Seputis both
noted the importance of
defense.
“We have to stress defense-first,”
Seputis said.
“Our offense is going to
be there, but we need our
defense to be there at the
start.”
Seputis looks to take the
reins in that department.
“I want to be one of the
leaders on defense,” he
said. “I’m one of the vocal
guys on our defense. I’m
talking to everyone, try to
direct everyone to where
they need to go and just try
to help everyone out.”
Jones is confident the
Griffins will be formidable
at the end of the year.
“We all want to win a
regional, and hopefully go
to state,” he said. “It’s going
to take hard work and
dedication.”