Sophomore point guard Tyreek Coleman needed just one play to clear his nerves.
In his state playoff debut Wednesday night, Coleman converted a 3-pointer on Waubonsie Valley’s opening possession against Oswego. And it made a positive difference.
“I was definitely nervous coming into the game,” he said. “But then, I think once it tipped off, I got into the groove with that first shot. I saw the ball go in.
“From there on, I thought this was just another game.”
It was also another strong performance by Coleman, who scored a game-high 16 points for the host Warriors in a 54-40 victory in a Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinal.
On top of that, Coleman contributed five rebounds and four assists as the Warriors (15-15) advanced to play at 7 p.m. Friday against Bolingbrook (24-7) for the regional title.
“I knew I had to step it up for my seniors because this was a really big game,” Coleman said. “I just found out this was our first playoff win in four years. It was definitely huge.”
Waubonsie cooled off a smoldering Oswego (15-16) that had won nine of its last 11 games.
The Warriors limited the Panthers to just one basket in the fourth quarter — a 3-pointer by senior guard Josh Nelson with 1:28 remaining.
The 6-foot Coleman scored seven points during the decisive fourth as the Warriors blitzed Oswego with a 22-6 run.
During a roller-coaster season for the Warriors, Coleman had to learn to adapt his skills to game situations and be the driver of the attack.
“The season has definitely been up and down,” Coleman said. “For myself, being a sophomore, I knew my role was to come in, handle the ball and run the offense.”
Nelson, meanwhile, hit four 3-pointers in scoring a team-best 12 points for Oswego.
As a junior last season, Nelson won the Class 4A 3-point shootout at the University of Illinois. The Illinois High School Association has discontinued the event.
That part of his game has helped the others.
“The coaches like to say the best shooter is a passer,” Nelson said. “If I have a shot in the corner and a guy closing really hard, it opens up so many other things in the drive-and-kick game.”
Oswego, which had a strange night by scoring in single digits in three quarters, erupted for 21 points in the third quarter in taking a 34-32 lead entering the fourth.
Junior forward Treshawn Blissett, however, supported Coleman with 14 points and seven rebounds. He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter.
“I have been playing with these seniors for two years,” Blissett said. “I wanted to do anything I could just to keep playing.”
Oswego had no answer for Blissett’s drives to the basket.
“I like to get downhill, create for my teammates or finish at the basket,” he said. “Once I did the first time, my confidence just skyrocketed and I went from there.”
At 6-5 with a 6-8 wingspan, Blissett also was a deterrent at the rim. His deflections and blocks pushed Oswego away from the basket.
“Last year, I was more of a sixth man — the bench player who brought energy,” he said. “Now, bumped up to the starters, I do whatever I can out there.”
The larger theme has been Coleman’s coming of age while learning how to apply his talent to the situation.
Everything flows from there.
“In my first couple of games, I played fast,” Coleman said. “(Wednesday night) was a good example of how I have learned how to be under control and keep the game plan and tempo at the right pace.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
