Joliet Junior College men's basketball took care of business Saturday as the Wolves handled Lorain County Community College, 103-80, in the NJCAA Division III Sub-District.
The Wolves controlled the game from start to end, never allowing the Commodores to tie things up or take the lead. JJC led by as much as 36 points midway through the second half.
Wolves coach
Danny Turner praised his team, specifically his freshmen.
"It was nice to see our freshmen, like
Kareem Parker and
Dominick Hale, step up in their first college playoff game," Turner said after the win. "They are growing."
Parker scored 23 points off the bench to lead the Wolves offense and earned a double-double with 10 rebounds. He finished with two assists and a pair of blocks.
Turner praised Hale's defensive play against the Commodores as the 6-foot-2 guard finished with seven points and a rebound.Â
Sophomores
Levi Goad and
Jeffrey Fleming also helped the Wolves control the tempo. Goad finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Fleming also recorded a double-double, scoring 20 points and hauling in 17 rebounds along with four assists.
Victor Yatou was one rebound shy of a double-double as well as he finished with 11 points.
The Wolves were electric from the field, shooting 57.3% on the night with a 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. JJC out-rebounded Lorain County, 53-36. The Wolves scored 74 points in the paint and 36 off the bench.
At the break, the Wolves led the Commodores, 49-25.
With the win, the Wolves advance deeper into the postseason as JJC looks to return to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time since the 2023-24 season.Â
