After winning four straight to open the season, the Wolves saw their streak snapped as the Joliet Junior College men's basketball team suffered its first loss on Thursday.
In a hard-fought battle against Division II foe Waubonsee Community College, the Wolves lost, 90-70.
"We just came out flat," said Wolves coach Danny Turner. "We didn't move like we normally should. This is the third time in our five games that we've started flat like this."
The Wolves (4-1) trailed by as much as 22 points at one point, with the Chiefs making more free throws in the first half than the Wolves attempted. The Wolves trailed at the break, 48-30.Â
One issue for the struggles was the Chiefs' ability to keep sophomore
Devon Richardson from being a threat.
"We couldn't counter the double on Devon," said Turner. "We didn't stick to the plan when Devon got the ball to counter the double-team."
Richardson, who was named NJCAA Division III National Player of the Week, still recorded a double-double in the game, but was held to a season-low 10 points and 13 rebounds.
It was freshman
Levi Goad who led the Wolves on the scoreboard, putting up 16 points and four assists. Freshman Denyell Rush struggled early in the game but finished with 12 points.
"In the first half I couldn't really get my rhythm going, so when I went into the locker room, the guys told me to play my game, stay with it and everything will come," said Rush. "In the second half, everything came and my shots started falling."
The Wolves host Kalamazoo Valley Community College on Saturday at 3 p.m. as they look to bounce back.Â
