Plum Clinches Playoff Spot With Victory

Plum’s boys varsity basketball team clinched a playoff spot Friday night with a 62-44 victory over Franklin Regional. 

The win improved the Mustangs to 6-6 in section play, with an overall record of 9-11. 

For such a young team, advancing to the postseason constitutes a successful campaign. 

“It is a heck of an accomplishment," Plum Head Coach Ron Richards said. "If you would’ve said to me coming into the season we would make the playoffs, I would’ve been very happy. Now these kids have a chance to play some extra basketball.”

Nolan Cressler paced the Plum attack, scoring a game-high 22 points. 

Sophomore Matt Dombrowski chipped in as well, enjoying one of his finest games and scoring 13 points. 

Fellow sophomore Griffin Myers also contributed 13 points, including three baskets from behind the three-point arc.

Plum took a commanding 31-20 lead into the half and then sealed the victory in the third quarter by holding Franklin Regional to only seven points. 

Once they held a sizeable lead in the second half, the Mustangs shortened the game, as they ran significant time off the clock by extending their possessions. 

Franklin Regional was forced to foul, putting the Mustangs in the bonus with over five minutes remaining. 

Plum then converted the majority of their foul attempts in the closing minutes to ensure the win. 

Three days after a poor performance against section-leading Gateway, Plum sustained its impressive play for all 32 minutes against the Panthers. 

“We were in control," Richards said. "We emphasized a good start. The team was maintaining effort the entire way, and everybody was contributing”

For Franklin, Sammy Ayasso represented the only scorer in double-figures, tallying 16 on the night. 

The Panthers comeback bid was marred by turnovers and fouls, and they were not able to trim the deficit below ten points in the fourth quarter.

On senior night, Plum’s only senior, Kenny Kruszka, was inserted into the starting lineup, and provided solid defense for the Mustangs. 

Kruszka now will have an opportunity to end his high school career with an extended playoff run as Plum awaits its first round opponent.