Blazers Come out On Top On Sophomore Day
The John Wood Men's Basketball team welcomed conference opponent and rival Illinois Central College yesterday for a chance to play host to a Region 24 Tournament play in game on the line.
John Wood would start out fast scoring the first four points of the game, but then Sophomore Login Robbins would go down with an apparent ankle injury and need to be helped to the locker room. However, the Blazers wouldn't let that stick in their minds very long. Freshman Kylin Smith and Sophomore Joshua Talton would go on and help score five points over three minutes to give the Blazers a 10-6 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half.
Big man Braylon Diggs would then get in the books as he would score a thunderous dunk off the assist from Smith to give the Blazers even more energy and momentum. Illinois Central College would however come storming back and get the game to a 14-17 score in favor of John Wood with just 6 minutes remaining in the half. However back-to-back jumper from Freshman Jakeb Wallingford would help the Blazers go into half time with a 25-23 lead.
The second half was no different as different as John Wood would score seven points within the first three minutes thanks to Talton and Freshman Jordan Shelton. Shelton would strike again at the 13-minute mark with an and one basket off the assist from Cachao Gianquinto Jr to give the Blazers a 44-26 lead.
Shelton would strike again with a three pointer from the right wing to give the Blazers a 53-33 lead with just 10 minutes remaining. Joshua Talton would add to the Blazers lead with an and one play thanks to the assist from Braylon Diggs. John Wood would cruse the rest of the way to a final score of 74-59 and earn one last home game on Wednesday March 6th at 7:30pm.
The Blazers will welcome Region 24 opponent Rend Lake College that day and look to get a win and move into the semi-finals of the Region 24 Tournament.