Andrew Pohlman's toughness sets the tone in Oswego East's win against crosstown rival Oswego
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, then did it again this season.
“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.”
This year’s 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.
“[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.”
Pohlman was a standout safety and wide receiver on the football team. In the 60-46 win Saturday against crosstown rival Oswego, he cut his lip and had to switch out of a bloody jersey into a new one.
Pohlman finished with eight points and 10 rebounds and missed just one shot. Oswego East (12-5, 6-1 Southwest Prairie West) outrebounded Oswego 38-12, a remarkable disparity.
“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 tonight.”
Junior Mason Lockett led the Wolves with 14 points and six rebounds, and Torrin Ross added nine points.
The game was close throughout the first half, and the Panthers closed the gap to 44-36 late in the third quarter. But that was as close as they would get. Oswego (7-8, 3-4) missed 16 free throws, which made it difficult to mount any major comeback.
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.
There are nearly 40,000 residents in Oswego. It’s one of the fastest-growing districts in the area. The Panthers now have a star as well in Ethan Vahl, who finished with 14 points and has been one of the state’s best freshmen this season.
“[Oswego] having a star is big,” Lockett said. “[Everyone] will come out to see our crosstown rivalry, with both schools having Division I talent.”
There was a big crowd in Oswego’s large gym 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.
The Panthers are unlikely to make much noise this season, but Vahl is a talented point guard whom other top players will flock to join. The next few years at Oswego could be special.