Andrew Pohlman’s Toughness Sets the Tone in Oswego East’s Win Against Crosstown Rival Oswego
A True Leader on and Off the Court
Andrew Pohlman’s effort level is displayed all over his face, literally. The Oswego East senior is playing with a mask for the second consecutive year. He broke his nose in a basketball game last year and then did it again this season.
A Tough Season, a Tougher Player
“It’s definitely a situation I didn’t hope to be in,” Pohlman said. “You just have to push through. My mom and I were joking that God ran out of injuries to give me, so he redid the nose thing again.”
A True Competitor
This year’s nose injury occurred while taking a charge against DePaul Prep. Pohlman’s leadership and toughness is so important to the Wolves that coach Ryan Velasquez is already dreading the thought of playing without him next season. And it’s only January.
A Football Mentality
“[Pohlman] is tenacious,” Velasquez said. “He is such a competitor. He brings that football mentality, that toughness. He’s a great leader and a special kid. I hope we get some more like him.”
A Dominant Performance
Pohlman was a standout safety and wide receiver on the football team. In Saturday’s 60-46 win against crosstown rival Oswego, Pohlman cut his lip and had to switch out of a bloody jersey into a new one.
A Big Game from a Big Player
He finished with eight points and 10 rebounds and missed just one shot. Oswego East (12-5, 6-1 Southwest Prairie West) out-rebounded Oswego 38-12, a remarkable disparity.
A Winning Formula
“It just shows we are going to do the little things,” Pohlman said. “Those add up and can win you games. That was a factor here tonight.”
A Balanced Attack
Junior Mason Lockett led the Wolves with 14 points and six rebounds and Torrin Ross added nine points.
A Tough Defense
The game was close throughout the first half and Oswego closed the gap to 44-36 late in the third quarter, but that was as close as it would get. The Panthers missed 16 free throws, which made it difficult to mount any major comeback.
A Bright Future
Lockett is one of the state’s top junior prospects. Oswego East has been producing Division I players regularly for more than a decade, but it has gone a bit unnoticed that the village is a basketball hotbed.
A Star in the Making
There are nearly 40,000 residents in Oswego. It is one of the fastest growing districts in the area. The Panthers now have a star as well in Ethan Vahl. He finished with 14 points for Oswego and has been one of the state’s best freshmen this season.
A Big Crowd, a Big Rivalry
“[Oswego] having a star is big,” Lockett said. “[Everyone] will come out to see our crosstown rivalry with both schools having Division I talent.”
A Bright Future Ahead
There was a big crowd in Oswego’s large gym on Saturday, but both teams are still in the growing stage. Oswego East gave top-ranked DePaul Prep a solid challenge earlier in the season and could be a real factor by playoff time.
Conclusion
Andrew Pohlman’s toughness and leadership set the tone for Oswego East’s win against crosstown rival Oswego. With a strong team effort and a bright future ahead, the Wolves are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: Oswego East won 60-46.
Q: Who led the Wolves in scoring?
A: Junior Mason Lockett led the Wolves with 14 points and six rebounds.
Q: What is the current record for Oswego East?
A: Oswego East is currently 12-5 overall and 6-1 in the Southwest Prairie West conference.
Q: Who is the standout freshman for Oswego?
A: Ethan Vahl is the standout freshman for Oswego, finishing with 14 points in the game against Oswego East.
