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Neuqua Valley spreads the scoring around

Neuqua Valley started the playoffs in typical Wildcats fashion, cruising to an 89-43 win over Oswego East in the Class 4A Joliet West boys basketball regional semifinal.

The top-seeded Wildcats scored more than 20 points in the first three quarters, lighting up the gym with their shooting and taking care of No. 18 Oswego East with good team defense.

"Just a great team effort," said Neuqua coach Todd Sutton. "Fourteen guys contributed tonight, a lot of great plays out there. Lot of great passing. I was really pleased with the passing that led to a lot of easy scores."

Wasting no time, Neuqua's Joe Sieger hit a 3-pointer to open the scoring and a 7-0 run to start the game, which eventually led to a 12-2 run before the Wolves (6-22) had to call a timeout.

Neuqua (25-4) hit 10 of 18 from the field and 3 of 6 from behind the arc to end the quarter 25-11, but the Wildcats weren't done.

The Wildcats added another 25 points in the second quarter when senior Connor Raridon scored 16 of his 18 points in the first half. The Wildcats took a 50-21 lead into halftime.

Neuqua's defense forced 11 first-half turnovers out of Oswego East, while just committing 2 turnovers of its own.

"They do it all the time," Sutton said about his players taking care of the ball. "They're just good ballhandlers and good decision-makers, so that really helps."

Unfortunately for Oswego East, the scoring didn't let up. Demond George forced two turnovers in the third quarter and converted them into easy points, and the Wildcats soon were out to a 13-0 run to start the second half.

With 22 points in the third quarter and adding 17 points in the fourth quarter, Neuqua had 10 of its 14 players on the on the scoresheet, with five players in double digits, four of them starters.

It was the fifth time this season that the Wildcats had scored 80 points or more.

Despite the score Oswego East continued to fight. Demetrius Ewing putting up 17 points and Jalen Williams chipping in with 15 points.

Neuqua is a force to be reckoned with in the Bolingbrook sectional, but senior Zach Lendino says the pressure doesn't fall too hard on the player's shoulders.

"Lots of people have a lot of expectations for the No. 1 seed," Lendino said after putting up 13 points. "But we're just going to go out every game, play as hard as we can and try to win."

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