Tahj Oliver kept to the usual routine for his last home game at Oswego East.

"Just listened to music," said the Wolves' senior guard. "I guess you could say that got me going."

Whatever the tunes, Oliver's shooting was sweet music to the Wolves.

He scored a career-high 32 points, carrying Oswego East to a win over Plainfield East on Feb. 21. It was the Wolves' third straight win to finish the regular season, and the third consecutive game that Oliver scored in double figures.

Oliver scored 18 against Plainfield Central and 14 in a big win at Minooka for Oswego East (15-11).

For his outstanding performances, Tahj Oliver is the Oswego Ledger Athlete of the Week.

"It was Senior Night, and I think he was excited - but he let the game come to him," Oswego East coach Steve Szymanski said. "He didn't try to force anything."

Oliver hit three straight 3-pointers in the second quarter, five for the game.

He didn't stop at the 3-point line.

On one play Oliver spun in the lane, got hit, threw it over his shoulder and the shot went in.

"That play, it made your jaw drop," Szymanski said. "Everybody that plays sports has one of those games that they feel like everything they throw up is going on. It was one of those games for him."

Oliver has been Oswego East's most consistent scorer during the second half of the season, and leads the Wolves at 12.6 points per game.

Like his team, though, Oliver was streaky earlier. With good reason.

He tore a ligament in his right wrist during football practice. It hurt his aggressiveness, and naturally his shooting suffered.

"It was bad in practice. The team would make fun of me how I shoot free throws," said Oliver, who is committed to St. Xavier to play football. "I literally was just throwing the ball up. I'd be open in practice and people would play off of me. Now they have to get up on me."

Oliver gets support from his teammate and close buddy Stephon Harris, both on and off the court.

Oliver transferred to Oswego from Mount Carmel after his freshman year. The move hasn't been without its challenges. Oliver now lives with Harris and his family.

"I have a great support system," Oliver said. "There are a lot of people in my life I'm blessed to have. Stephon and I, we've got pretty close. It's been nice."

It's a nice tandem on the court, too.

When Harris struggles, Oliver seems to take it on his shoulders to carry a bigger load.

"He's very strong for a high school kid - he gets a lot of points just being stronger than the guy guarding him," Szymanski said. "He's focused working on his outside shot, and he's done a better job finishing at the rim. He's just a competitive kid. He wants to win."

That was apparent after Oswego East's loss to Oswego Feb. 10. Oliver and the Wolves called a players-only meeting in its aftermath.

They haven't lost since, going into this week's regional opener with Romeoville.

"We all said what needed to be said," Oliver said. "We were in a big slump. We all had one goal, that we were finishing the season strong and go into the playoffs playing well. That's what we've done."