Sports
Analysis: Lemont's Playoff Future Hinges on Briggs
A return to the state finals is dependent on junior Shannon Briggs's ability to command the offense like she did in the regional final against Oak Forest.
Going deep into the playoffs is nothing new for Lemont these days.
In 2009, the Indians made it all the way to the state championship, where they lost 3-0 to Wheaton Academy. In 2010, they won their regional, but were ousted by Joliet Catholic in the sectional semifinal in OT.
The team may very well get to repay the favor next week in the Lincoln-Way West sectional if Joliet Catholic defeats Morris.
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Lemont coach Rick Prangen, however, isn’t too fixated on the past.
“That was last year. We’re focused on this year and making it to the state championship," he said. "I’m sure some of the girls remember it, but it’s not like I’m going to focus on that.”
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Much of their success in the later rounds may hinge on junior midfielder Shannon Briggs. She scored the first goal of the game early in the second half and assisted on the other two. She was a constant presence around the ball, continuing to make plays and force the Oak Forest defense into making mistakes.
“(Briggs) is a third-year veteran,” Prangen said. “She was on the team that went to the state title as a freshman. Now she needs to be a leader for the rest of the team.”
With only three seniors on the team’s roster, Briggs’s role as a leader on the offensive side of the ball could be vital going forward. Her play in the regional title against Oak Forest suggests she’s more than ready to take on the challenge.
