Will Cook County News

By Claude Martinez.

The NJCAA Region IV Quarterfinals took place on Thursday, February 27, 2025, where #14 Prairie State College faced off against #3 South Suburban College.

The teams started with contrasting lineups. Prairie State fielded 4 sophomores and 1 freshman, while South Suburban opted for 4 freshmen and 1 sophomore. The skill and energy of the young SSC team proved to be the right choice.

In the first half, the Bulldogs established dominance, leading by 20 points with 6 minutes remaining. They entered halftime leading 45-33 

In the second half, SSC continued to build on their momentum, extending their lead to a commanding 32 points with just 4 minutes left to play.

FINAL: South Suburban 88, Prairie State 58.

One of South Suburban’s unofficial mottos is “Defense wins championships,” and head coach John Pigatti emphasized the importance of this philosophy following the game.

The WCCN Player of the Game was freshman guard AJ Abrams, who had an impressive stat line of 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Freshman guard Samar Bures also delivered a strong performance, contributing 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Other Bulldogs who played significant roles in the victory included sophomore forward Kuba Senczyszyn (13 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists), freshman guard Tyler Wooten (10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), and freshman guard Tanner Fields (11 points, 2 rebounds).

Special thank you to the NJCAA and head coach John Pigatti (SSC).

Watch the video recap on YouTube (linked below) or on Facebook or Instagram @ Will Cook County News.

For more news follow WCCN on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube @ Will Cook County News.