Sophomore forward Cole Jansons is walking tall for improved Oswego. Of course, with Jansons checking in at 6-foot-11, that should probably go without saying.
But while Janson might still be growing, he continues to take big strides for the Panthers with his play on the court after stepping up to the varsity level this season.
“I feel like I can get better,” he said. “I try to do that every day as the season goes on. We’re a pretty young group, and the longer we play together, the better we’re going to get.
“It’s gonna be fun the next two years.”
It’s already started.
Jansons played a big part of that fun Friday night, scoring four of his 13 points early in overtime for Oswego in a 65-58 Southwest Prairie West victory at crosstown rival Oswego East.
Oswego’s Cole Jansons (23) reaches over Oswego East’s Juan Zavala (21) to keep the ball in play during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Both of Janson’s baskets extended two-point leads and came off feeds from sophomore guard Ethan Vahl, who finished with a game-high 29 points as the Panthers (21-8, 11-4) grabbed sole possession of second place in conference with one game remaining.
Senior forward Brayden Borrowman added 10 points for Oswego, which previously had snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Wolves on Jan. 9 with a 59-52 victory, also in OT.
Junior forward Dshaun Bolden scored 15 points for Oswego East (18-10, 10-5), while junior forward Jacsen Tucker added 13 and senior guard Mason Lockett had 12.
The Wolves forced OT with a 51-51 tie on a 3-pointer from junior guard Alton Bullock, his only basket of the game. The Panthers then outscored Oswego East 14-7 in the extra session.
Oswego’s Cole Jansons (23) goes up to block a shot against Oswego East during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
“I got a pretty good contest on it,” Jansons said of the play that began when Oswego’s Mariano Velasco extended the lead to 51-48 with nine seconds left but missed the second free throw.
Tucker rebounded the ball, took a dribble and found Lockett at midcourt, who found Bullock after two dribbles.
“I got a little mad,” said Jansons, who came out from underneath the basket. “It was a good contest. He made it over me — he was shooting pretty high.”
Oswego has been here before, playing three other OT games this season.
Oswego East’s R’mani Sims (4) dives for a loose ball against Oswego’s Cole Jansons (23) during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
“I’m super proud of the way we pulled it out,” Oswego coach Nick Oraham said. “We’ve been here before. We needed to see that first one go in.”
Borrowman converted two free throws to start OT, followed by Jansons’ two baskets.
“Those were great finishes by the big dog,” Oraham said. “I’m really proud of the way Cole responded. He was super aggressive on the glass in the second half, altering shots and finishing.
“It was really good stuff.”
Jansons, who finished with a game-high 11 rebounds, had three baskets on putbacks.
He was 6-6 when he started his freshman year and played his first season of AAU last summer. He has good height from both sides of his family.
That includes his mother’s brother Brad Korn, who is now Southeast Missouri State’s coach. In 1999, the 6-9 Korn led Plano to fourth place in the state in Class A and then played on several NCAA Tournament qualifiers for Southern Illinois.
“We’re pretty far away, but he tries to give me tips every once in a while,” Jansons said.
Oswego’s Cole Jansons (23) goes up for a shot in the post against Oswego East during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Vahl was also key for Oswego, shooting 12 of 12 from the free-throw line.
“I’ve been playing with Cole since seventh grade,” Vahl said. “He had a rough first half and I told him, ‘Next play, next play.’ He just got out of his head and did his thing.”
Jansons missed a couple games in the middle of the season with a concussion.
But the Panthers, who ended up 13-20 last season, earned the sixth seed in the Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional and could draw the third-seeded Raiders for the regional title at Oswego.
“From the summer to now, it’s night and day,” Oraham said of Jansons. “It’s a completely different person. He’s really coming around, sticking it out, taking the weight room seriously.
“He’s really done a nice job.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/14/cole-jansons-oswego-oswego-east-basketball/
