PR pulls away in 2nd quarter

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WOODSTOCK – The Prairie Ridge boys basketball team coasted to a 59-33 postseason tuneup win against Woodstock North on Friday, in Fox Valley Conference Fox Division action.

The Wolves (11-15 overall, 5-7 FVC Fox) will square off against Crystal Lake Central at 8 p.m. Tuesday, in an IHSA Regional quarterfinal, also at Woodstock North.

“We won’t change things up too much [for the regional game],” said Prairie Ridge coach Corky Card.

“This time of year, we pretty much know what other teams are doing, but we’ll make the adjustments that are necessary for the team, just as we’ve tried to do all year long.”

The Wolves never trailed Friday night.

Prairie Ridge led by three at the end of the first quarter, but finished 7 for 10 from three-point range during the first half, which gave them a 39-14 cushion by intermission.

Prairie Ridge senior guards Chad Ljunggren (game-high 15 points, five assists) and Kevin Kaczmarski each scored 10 points during the Wolves’ 25- point second quarter – a quarter that was just as good defensively as it was offensively for the visitors.

Prairie Ridge held North to only three points in the second, thanks to a stingy full-court press mixed with a half court man-to-man defense.

It was the difference in the game.

“I think our inside post game led to some nice open outside shots tonight,” Ljunggren said. “Now we have to focus on the postseason, and if you lose, you’re out.”

Drew Jandron (seven points) and sophomore Trey Grover (seven points, five rebounds) led North, and despite just one win during the regular season, there are positive signs for the first-year Thunder.

North – which is without any seniors in its inaugural varsity season – was outscored by a point during the second half Friday and forced more turnovers than the Wolves (16-15).

“I told our kids this wasn’t just the end of the regular season,” North coach Joe Conroy said. “It’s also the beginning of our journey to build a winning basketball program here.”

North (1-23, 1-11) will host Woodstock at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Thunder’s first IHSA postseason game.