Red Wolves secured their spot in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) playoffs with a 75-57 home victory over Joliet Central on Tuesday night.
Thornton South entered the game with a 12-19 record, including 7-6 in conference play, following a challenging 69-25 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South. Meanwhile, Joliet Central had struggled throughout the season, holding a 2-25 record and was coming off a 59-46 loss to Plainfield South.
Despite both teams seeking a much-needed win, Thornton South took control early and maintained their lead. The Red Wolves led 35-23 at halftime, with sophomore guard Amari Dukes contributing seven points. Joliet’s senior guard Erick Contreras kept his team competitive with nine first-half points.
According to Thornton head coach Todd Gillespie, “You want to be playing your best basketball going into the playoffs, but sometimes that’s not always the case.” He added that although they have been inconsistent, they are pleased to have secured their playoff spot. Joliet showed resilience in the third quarter, led by senior guard Bernal Fox, who finished with 11 points.
Fox said, “We came out of halftime more aggressive,” adding that a motivational speech helped elevate his performance. However, Thornton’s size and athleticism proved decisive in the final stages of the game.
Joliet head coach Lawrence Thompson remarked on his team’s defensive challenges: “They had a lead, and once teams realize we don’t have much inside defensively, they attack.” He emphasized that summer training would focus on fundamentals and reducing turnovers.
With this victory, Thornton South advances to the next round of the IHSA playoffs.
