It was just one game.
Saying that after suffering a 33-point loss to open the season is only natural for a coach. Getting players to believe it and respond, however, could easily be another matter.
Oswego East’s Steve Szymanski found himself in that predicament Nov. 21 when his Wolves got blasted 71-38 by West Aurora in their Hoops For Healing Tournament opener at Naperville North.
“You mean since we laid an egg?” Szymanski said.
Twelve days later, the coach and his players can smile. They have a much different outlook, riding a five-game winning streak.
“It really has been a fun time,” Szymanski said. “What I’m excited about is how the guys have responded to a bad loss.”
Even better, the five wins haven’t come against teams that would be termed patsies.
The Wolves followed with tourney wins over Hinsdale Central and highly touted Naperville North in overtime and DeKalb, then won their home opener against Glenbard East and rallied from 12 points down to beat Plainfield East, also in overtime.
Leading the way has been senior forward Stephon Harris, who’s averaging a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. He had 10 points and five rebounds in the first game.
“We just forgot about it, put it out of our mind,” Harris said of the opener. “We got more focused and practiced harder. Besides, it was the first game of the season and we still didn’t know each other that well.”
Several players, like the 6-foot-4 Harris, got a late start because of the of the football team’s playoff success. They also had to adjust to the loss of guard Trevor Ross, who would have been a three-year starter like Harris.
Halfway through last summer, Ross transferred to Bolingbrook.
“It was a big loss,” Harris said. “I knew I’d have to put the team on my back.”
He did just that in both overtime games, hitting last-second 3-pointers in regulation to force OT. But he also got help.
Senior Tahj Oliver, in his second year on varsity has been steady and scored a season-high 25 vs. Glenbard East.
Szymanski also cited the play of junior point guard Andre Hughes, who made seven 3-pointers and had 38 points against Plainfield East. It included shooting 13-for-15 on free throws.
As a matter of fact, Szymanski said the Wolves are shooting 70 percent at the line after making just 53 percent last season.
Bulldogs to honor Sager: Batavia graduate Craig Sager, the NBA television sideline reporter for TNT and TBS, will be honored Friday by his alma mater. The Bulldogs’ players will wear colorful warmup shirts for a 7 p.m. home game against Streamwood.
The shirts were inspired by the broadcaster who’s known for his colorful suits. He has been battling leukemia for several years. The shirts are being sold by his foundation to raise money to battle the disease and are available at both sagerstrong.org. and nba.com.
Batavia coach Jim Nazos said his program will also raffle off a framed shirt Sager signed last summer when he returned home to participate in the program’s annual golf outing organized by former Batavia coach Jim Roberts.
East-West tickets: The first of two girls and boys basketball doubleheaders this season between East and West Aurora will be at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday at West Aurora.
Tickets for East fans will be sold from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at East Aurora’s field house ticket booth with a limit of two per person. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children.
Twitter @RickArmstrong28
