The older sisters of senior forward Jack Rimkunas found success in a sport far different from basketball, but they’ve always served as his biggest athletic role models.
Emma and Kara Rimkunas were standout tennis players for Lincoln-Way Central, both qualifying for state four times.
“They’ve always pushed me to be better,” Jack said. “They’ve always inspired me to do better. They have true dedication to their sport and I’ve always respected that my whole life.
“I always wanted to have the same dedication to basketball.”
Rimkunas’ hard work and energy have been invaluable this season to the Knights. Typically the team’s sixth man, he got the start Friday night and scored 11 points in a 56-46 win over Oak Forest in New Lenox.
Kevin Barrett led Lincoln-Way Central (15-7) with 20 points. Korey Cagnolatti scored 16 points and Logan Baechtold picked up seven rebounds.
Hayden Noha finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for Oak Forest (13-9). Matt Anderson scored 11 points and Gary Manso added 11.
Lincoln-Way Central coach Brian Flaherty compared Rimkunas to an NBA Hall of Fame inductee and Chicago Bulls legend.
“Jack’s kind of like a scoring version of a Dennis Rodman,” Flaherty said. “He gives us a lift. He normally comes off the bench, not because he’s our sixth-best player but because he injects us with offense and energy immediately when he enters the game.
“It’s nice to be able to bring a guy like that in off the bench. I’ve always said that, as far as our season goes, he’s the X-factor.”
Rimkunas certainly appreciated being likened to Rodman.
“I love it,” he said. “I try to provide whatever the team needs. Whatever coach asks me to do, that is what I try to provide. Anything to help the team.”
Lucas Andresen, Lincoln-Way Central’s leading scorer, was out sick Friday night. That prompted Rimkunas’ insertion in the starting lineup.
He responded by scoring seven points in the first quarter. Barrett, for one, wasn’t surprised.
“Jack’s our spark plug,” Barrett said. “Every time he comes in, it’s just a fireball of energy. We really love that. Especially when he comes off the bench. If we start our slow, he comes in and gets us going every game.
“He gets us some buckets and then we’re right back in it.”
Barrett got the Knights plenty of baskets of his own, scoring 11 points in the second half to help them pull away after leading just 27-23 at halftime.
Rimkunas also scored four points during a 7-0 run to start the second half.
Leading 40-30 after three quarters, the Knights opened the fourth with a 15-4 surge to take full control.
“We’ve played a lot of close games this season and we have really good senior leadership that gets us going in close games,” Barrett said. “As a senior myself, I’ve tried to step into more of a leadership role and show these younger guys what it takes to win on a day-to-day basis.”
When the basketball season is over, Rimkunas plans to follow in his sisters’ footsteps and try something new this spring.
“I’m going to play tennis for the first time,” he said. “I’ve always been around the sport and I’ve seen and heard nothing but positive things about it, so I want to give it a try.
“I’ve hit around with my sisters for years but now I’m going to officially play for the first time and I’m excited.”
Rimkunas said playing a little bit of tennis on the side has helped him with his footwork on the basketball court, the place where his sports passion has always been focused.
“I’ve been playing basketball since I could walk,” he said. “I had this little toy hoop that I used to play on and I was hooked from there.”
