Slow Start Dooms Plainfield South in Regional Semifinal

followed a disturbing trend in its Class 4A regional semifinal boys basketball game against Chicago Heights' Bloom High School Tuesday.

The Cougars fell behind early and never quite recovered in a 41-34 setback to the Trojans.

No. 5 Bloom (16-11) faces No. 2 Crete-Monee (22-3) at 7:30 p.m. Friday for the regional plaque. Crete-Monee beat Blue Island's Eisenhower 107-65 in the other regional semifinal.

No. 10 Plainfield South ended its best season to date at 20-7 and as the Southwest Prairie Conference champion.

“This was a fantastic year from these guys,” Plainfield South coach Ken Bublitz said. “More importantly, they were a great group of kids who represented the school real well all year. Tonight was no different.”

Trailing 27-21, Dantrell Wright and Darrell Collins each buried a pair of free throws, cutting the lead to a single possession, 27-25, with 4:43 to play in the game.

Will Nixon’s two charity tosses made it 29-27 with 3:33 to play.

Bloom made five of six from the line and Plainfield South turned it over on three straight possessions.

“We had the ball down two and weren’t able to finish and get it done,” Bublitz said. “We put ourselves in a position to make a run. You have to credit Bloom. They made plays when they needed to.”

Zach Snowden was the lone player in double figures with 15 points. Nixon added six and leading scorer, Ed Presniakovas, was held to four points on two field goals.

Bloom hit 10 of 16 from the line in the fourth quarter.

“We fell behind and our kids did a great job coming back,” Bublitz said. “We picked it up in the second half. I wish I could waive a wand and do it from the start of the game.

"We had our opportunities in the fourth, but came up short. That was the story of the game.”

Collins’ three-pointer gave the visitors on the scoreboard a 9-2 advantage in the third quarter and cut the lead to 21-18 heading into the fourth.

Snowden’s dunk from Collins cut it to 23-20 with 6:33 to play in the fourth.

Twice South was within two points, but failed to tie it.

Bloom led from start to finish. The Cougars made just eight buckets.

“What we talked about before the game was if we had a slow start today, it was going to be tough to come back at this level,” Bublitz said. “That came back to haunt us.”

Despite losing in the regional semifinal for the second year in a row, the Cougars broke through and paved the way for future greatness, the coach said.

“This doesn’t take the luster off what we accomplished this year,” Bublitz said. “These kids need to be congratulated. I don’t think anybody picked us to win the league this year.”