Joliet West's Ryan Lipke on Fire as Tigers Take Down Plainfield East with Thrilling 76-61 Victory
In a thrilling matchup, Joliet West edged out host Plainfield East 76-61, thanks in large part to the impressive play of senior Ryan Lipke. The 6-foot-7 forward poured in 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.
Lipke's transformation from bench player to impactful starter has been a remarkable story this season. After transferring from Providence, he quickly adjusted to Joliet West's system, crediting the team's culture and coaches for making the transition seamless. "The culture and the coaches are great here, so that was an easy adjustment," Lipke said.
Kreiger Sees Improvement in Lipke
Tigers coach Jeremy Kreiger has been monitoring Lipke's development throughout the season, noting significant improvement from bench player to key contributor. "He didn't quite believe in himself yet," Kreiger explained. "The versatility he offers, stepping out and making threes while commanding the paint, makes him very special."
Lipke's high-volume three-point shooting has been a standout aspect of his game, with a 43% clip from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch the defense and create space for himself and teammates has been a game-changer for Joliet West.
Tigers' Strong Effort Paid Off
Despite Plainfield East's efforts to mount a comeback in the third quarter, led by KJ Miller's 26 points and draining three-pointer with 4:33 left, the Tigers remained composed. Senior guard Deven Triplett led the team with 21 points and six rebounds, while Aamir Shannon added 20 points and seven rebounds.
The Tigers' out-rebounded Plainfield East 33-24, further solidifying their dominance on both ends of the court. Coach Kreiger's emphasis on limiting mid-range shots to three-point attempts has paid off, with Joliet West shooting 10-for-23 from beyond the arc.
Next Up: Sectional Tournament
With the Class 4A sectional just around the corner, Joliet West is poised to become a force to be reckoned with. The Tigers' impressive turnaround from an afterthought to a contender has sent shockwaves through the state basketball scene.
"We weren't making the shots we did in the first half," Shannon said. "So we had to double down on our defense and stay focused on our principles." The team's newfound confidence is palpable, with Lipke at the forefront of their resurgence.
The Bolingbrook game, which ended with a narrow overtime loss, served as a wake-up call for Joliet West. However, according to Shannon, "But after that we knew what we had and we knew we could push ahead and make a run in the state tournament." With Lipke leading the charge, the Tigers are primed to make a deep playoff run.
In a thrilling matchup, Joliet West edged out host Plainfield East 76-61, thanks in large part to the impressive play of senior Ryan Lipke. The 6-foot-7 forward poured in 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.
Lipke's transformation from bench player to impactful starter has been a remarkable story this season. After transferring from Providence, he quickly adjusted to Joliet West's system, crediting the team's culture and coaches for making the transition seamless. "The culture and the coaches are great here, so that was an easy adjustment," Lipke said.
Kreiger Sees Improvement in Lipke
Tigers coach Jeremy Kreiger has been monitoring Lipke's development throughout the season, noting significant improvement from bench player to key contributor. "He didn't quite believe in himself yet," Kreiger explained. "The versatility he offers, stepping out and making threes while commanding the paint, makes him very special."
Lipke's high-volume three-point shooting has been a standout aspect of his game, with a 43% clip from beyond the arc. His ability to stretch the defense and create space for himself and teammates has been a game-changer for Joliet West.
Tigers' Strong Effort Paid Off
Despite Plainfield East's efforts to mount a comeback in the third quarter, led by KJ Miller's 26 points and draining three-pointer with 4:33 left, the Tigers remained composed. Senior guard Deven Triplett led the team with 21 points and six rebounds, while Aamir Shannon added 20 points and seven rebounds.
The Tigers' out-rebounded Plainfield East 33-24, further solidifying their dominance on both ends of the court. Coach Kreiger's emphasis on limiting mid-range shots to three-point attempts has paid off, with Joliet West shooting 10-for-23 from beyond the arc.
Next Up: Sectional Tournament
With the Class 4A sectional just around the corner, Joliet West is poised to become a force to be reckoned with. The Tigers' impressive turnaround from an afterthought to a contender has sent shockwaves through the state basketball scene.
"We weren't making the shots we did in the first half," Shannon said. "So we had to double down on our defense and stay focused on our principles." The team's newfound confidence is palpable, with Lipke at the forefront of their resurgence.
The Bolingbrook game, which ended with a narrow overtime loss, served as a wake-up call for Joliet West. However, according to Shannon, "But after that we knew what we had and we knew we could push ahead and make a run in the state tournament." With Lipke leading the charge, the Tigers are primed to make a deep playoff run.
The stats don't lie! Ryan Lipke is on 
this season 
! His 19 points and 10 rebounds against Plainfield East? 
That's what we call dominance! 
With a 43% clip from beyond the arc, he's a triple threat (pun intended) 
. The Tigers' out-rebounded their opponents by 9, that's some serious strength on both ends of the court 
.
. Kreiger's coaching skills are evident here 
. Next up, the Class 4A sectional - can't wait to see how far these Tigers will go 
! Here's a quick snapshot of the team's performance this season:
The Tigers' defense has also shown significant improvement this season:
!
it's always the same old highlights reel. Can't we get some more in-depth analysis or even just a decent discussion about the rules and how they're affecting the game? 
I mean, Ryan Lipke is impressive and all, but let's talk about something else for once... like how the refs are getting it right (or wrong) sometimes 
...
. And let's give a shoutout to Deven Triplett and Aamir Shannon for bringing the heat too 
i love how coach kreiger has been helping him develop his skills too, he's not just shooting 3s for the sake of it, he's got game! 
You can't go wrong with hard work and dedication 
. Ryan Lipke's transformation is definitely an inspiring story 
. His growth from bench player to key contributor is a testament to his perseverance and commitment to his craft 
.
The way Kreiger's team has adjusted to Lipke's playstyle is also telling. It just shows how well the coaches have been doing their job. But what really gets me is how far Joliet West has come this season. From being an afterthought to a contender? That's some serious momentum. I'm excited to see where this takes them in the sectional tournament