Basketball Game Preview: Joliet Central Steelmen vs. Normal Community Ironmen

The Joliet Central Steelmen and the Normal Community Ironmen will round out the year against one another at at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. Joliet Central is coming into the contest on a three-game losing streak.

Last Friday, Joliet Central lost to Oswego at home by a 53-35 margin. While losing is never fun, the Steelmen can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois basketball rankings (they are ranked 589th, while the Panthers are ranked 242nd).

Joliet Central's loss came about despite a quality game from James Lee, who went 6 of 10 on his way to 14 points and seven boards. The team also got some help courtesy of Bernal Fox, who posted nine points.

Even though they lost, Joliet Central smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That's the most offensive rebounds they've posted since back in December of 2023.

Meanwhile, Normal Community's undefeated season came to an end after seven games on Tuesday. They fell 57-48 to Rock Island. The match marked the Ironmen's lowest-scoring game so far this season.

Joliet Central's defeat dropped their record down to 2-9. As for Normal Community, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 7-1.

Joliet Central took a serious blow against Normal Community when the teams last played back in January of 2023, falling 68-35. Can Joliet Central avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.