By Randy Whalen

After a loss in the opening week of the girls' basketball season, Joliet West coach Bre Blackmon had a simple and true statement.

"It's my favorite mantra," she said. "It's not how you start, it's how you finish."

Yes, it is. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they haven't started well. But, just like last season, they are looking to right the ship and improve as the season progresses. 

Joliet West (1-5) won its first game of the season but has dropped five straight since. But just a year ago there was a similar rocky start of 1-4. The Tigers rebounded to finish 16-13 and 7-3 in the Southwest Prairie Conference.

That was their fourth straight winning season and they still hope to make it five in a row above .500 this winter.

However, the Tigers did suffer a setback earlier this week when they lost to crosstown rival Joliet Central for the first time in five years.

But their struggles started after the opening game of the WJOL Girls Basketball Tournament. In the first game, which was played at Joliet Catholic Academy on Monday, November 18, Joliet West defeated the host Angels 54-49 behind 20 points from sophomore point guard Gabby Gavin. Senior guards Makayla Chism (11 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks) and Khiana Tyler (9 points) also contributed to the win.

The rest of the tournament was held at Joliet Junior College. On Wednesday, November 20, the Tigers couldn't catch up and lost to Minooka 51-39. Tyler led the way with nine points while Chism and junior post player Jada Thompson added eight points each. Joliet West trailed 26-13 at halftime and played better in the second half but fell short. 

With Gavin out of the lineup on Friday, November 22, Joliet West fell to Lincoln-Way West 55-28. Chism led the way with eight points but the Tigers' offense never got going and they turned the ball over a number of times. 

"Lincoln-Way West played amazing and executed on our turnovers," Blackmon said. "Gabby wasn't here. She sees the floor well and is a good floor general for us. Makayla is a veteran and stayed composed. 

"We've got to stop their outside shooting better and we have to execute around the rim. But this tournament helps get us ready for the season."

After the Lincoln-Way West game, Chism agreed and just thought the Tigers had to turn it up.

"Lincoln-Way West is always a good team," Chism said of the Warriors, who were the Class 4A State Runner-Up in 2020. "But the whole game doesn't define who we are. For us, we have to play as a team and play with intensity. But also play smart.

"We saw glimpses of it. With our potential, we will get there."

On the final day of the tourney, Saturday, November 23, Joliet West fell to Providence 55-45. Chism led the way with 12 points while Tyler and Gavin added 11 points apiece. Again, a poor start cost the Tigers as they trailed 22-10 after the first quarter before settling down. 

Plainfield North (5-1 through December 4) defeated Lincoln-Way West 49-42 to win the tourney championship. The Warriors were also 5-1 through December 4. 

In a strange coincidence, the Tigers traveled to Providence on Wednesday, November 27 for a regularly scheduled game.. But this time it wasn't as close as the Celtics (3-3 through December 4) won 63-22. Chism had nine points. 

Joliet West played better on Monday, December 2, but lost 54-51 at Joliet Central in the SPC opener for both teams. 

Chism had a monster game with 24 points and 18 rebounds. Gavin added 13 points and sophomore guard Tamia Saunders chipped in with eight points. But Joliet West only had one lead, 2-0. 

Then sophomore guard Elena Moody hit back-to-back 3-pointers for an early 6-2 lead that the improved Steelmen (2-4, 1-0) never relinquished.

Joliet Central junior guard Neveah Wright finished with a team-leading 22 points and six rebounds. Moody finished with 13 points, while freshman guard Melani Tua-Link scored seven and junior guard Alexis Bradley added six, including three free throws in the fourth quarter to help keep the Tigers at bay. 

The Steelmen led 13-9 lead after the first quarter and 28-22 at halftime. But trailing 43-36 going into the fourth quarter Joliet West kept battling. Chism scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter. Her basket with 1:32 remaining pulled the Tigers within 51-48, but they never got closer.

It was the first win for Joliet Central over the Tigers since a 47-44 home victory on December 9, 2019. The Steelmen lost to Joliet West later that season and that started a streak of nine straight Tiger wins in the series. 

“Give credit to (Joliet Central Coach Laura) Brumfiel and her staff,” Blackmon said. “They had their kids prepared and they played well. We have some things we have to clean up, but we’ll get there. We are a young team with a lot of players new to varsity basketball.

"We look at a loss as a lesson. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. We are still learning to trust each other on the floor and figuring out who plays well together. We just need to trust the process and know that we are going to get better. I know we will.”