Streaking West Aurora clinched at least a share of its third consecutive DuPage Valley title as it blew past host Wheaton Warrenville South 66-49 in the fourth quarter Friday.
The No. 2 Blackhawks (21-2, 11-1) broke open a tight game as they went on a 17-2 run over a 4-minute-44-second span in the fourth to build a 59-43 lead with 3 minutes 16 seconds to play.
Dameon Mason scored a game-high 17 points and Jaeh Thomas added 16–including seven in the fourth quarter run–as the Blackhawks captured their 12th straight victory.
“They (the Tigers) kept a step ahead of us [in the first half] and I thought we were a little impatient,” West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said. “But at the beginning of the fourth quarter we were [more fresh] and they were getting a little more tired. I think a lot of it [was] that we had a little longer bench.”
Wheaton South (12-11, 6-6) roared out to leads as big as 12 points in the opening quarter. But West Aurora chipped away in the second quarter and trailed only 32-30 by halftime.
The Blackhawks went ahead for good with 33 seconds left in the third quarter as Thomas drove the baseline for a basket. He then got the fourth quarter surge under way with a three-pointer.
Shaun Pruitt added 12 points for West Aurora while James Wangler paced Wheaton Warrenville South with 14 points.
West Aurora can clinch the DuPage Valley crown with victory Saturday at home over Glenbard North.
Jack McCarthy.
Up next for West Aurora: Saturday at home vs. Glenbard North.
1. Joliet
Kellen Easley had 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Steelmen (24-1, 11-0) beat Stagg 84-47 in the SICA West. Easley put the game out of reach late in the third quarter, scoring 11 points in a 13-3 run that opened up a 20-point lead. David Genslinger had 13 points and seven rebounds for Stagg (14-11, 5-5).
Up next: Friday at Sandburg.
3. Proviso East
Dee Brown scored 28 points and Shannon Brown added 24 as the Pirates (20-2, 11-0) whipped Morton 85-57 in the West Suburban Gold. Proviso East led just 38-34 at half, but used a 21-6 run that included five straight three-pointers to break the game open. Sergio Estrada’s 15 points led Morton (13-11, 5-5).
Up next: Saturday vs. Julian at Northwestern University.
7. New Trier
Gordon Watt’s layup with 12 seconds left broke a late tie and propelled Evanston (18-5, 8-1) to a 48-44 upset of New Trier (17-6, 8-1) in the Central Suburban South. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Saturday at Warren.
10. Thornwood
David Moss scored 16 points and Melvin Buckley added 14 points as the Thunderbirds (20-4, 9-0) beat No. 17 Thornridge 55-47 in the SICA East. See story, Back Page.
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Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Rich South
11. Schaumburg
Tony Young had 14 points and Jim Kalcsits added 11 points as the Saxons (18-5, 8-2) gritted out a 48-43 victory over Conant to win the Mid-Suburban West title. The key was Schaumburg’s third-quarter defense as the Saxons shut out Conant 13-0. Kalcsits drew a charging foul to help shift the momentum.
“That’s what we pride ourselves on,” said Young of the defense. “If I had to give an MVP of the game, it was Jim.”
Scott Crassweller had 11 points to lead Conant (10-13, 4-6).
Up next: Saturday vs. No. 17 Brother Rice at Northwestern University.
12. Thornton Fractional North
Tom Piotrowski scored 16 points as four Meteors scored in double figures in a 71-43 victory over Tinley Park in the SICA Central. Greg Charles had 15 points, Brad Hatfield 14 and Brandon Boles 12 for T.F. North (20-3, 9-1), which puts together consecutive 20-victory seasons for the first time.
Rasheed Jones’ 17 points led Tinley Park (12-12, 6-5).
Up next: Tuesday at home vs. Oak Forest.
13. Hillcrest
Shelby Jordan had 13 points and 13 assists and Steve Mason had 12 points as the Hawks (19-5, 9-1) crushed Bremen 79-49 in the SICA Central.
Up next: Tuesday at Tinley Park.
16. Brother Rice
Ray Jendra scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Crusaders (20-4, 11-1) defeated host St. Laurence 66-40 in the Catholic League. Steve Woerheide added 10 points for Brother Rice, which plays No. 11 Schaumburg Saturday.
“[Saturday’s game is] perfect timing for us,” Brother Rice coach Pat Richardson said. “It will be a state-type atmosphere at Northwestern. They’re the best team we’ll face so far. We were concerned that we would look past Laurence, but we came out and took care of business.”
Brother Rice led 31-25 at halftime before outscoring St. Laurence 15-7 in the third quarter to open a double-digit lead.
Marcus Stevenson led St. Laurence (13-13, 2-10) with 10 points. The Vikings held Rice star Rick Harrigan to just nine points, snapping a streak of 23 straight double-digit scoring games.
Up next: Saturday vs. No. 11 Schaumburg at Northwestern University.
17. Thornridge
Jeremy Massingale had 12 points, but Thornridge (15-8, 6-3), fell to No. 10 Thornwood won 55-47 in the SICA East. See story, Back Page.
Up next: Saturday at Conant.
18. Shepard
To say things became a little intense during No. 18 Shepard’s second meeting of the season with SICA East rival Bloom would be understating what happened during a seven-second stretch near the end of the game.
In that short time span a tight game was transformed into a 71-58 victory for the Astros (19-5, 4-5).
“Things got a little crazy,” Shepard coach Tony Chiuccariello said after watching Bloom head coach Gary Meyer and longtime assistant Bob Eskew get called for consecutive technical fouls with 1:49 left.
Meyer had contested what he thought should have been an offensive foul on Shepard’s Mike Hall, who knocked Bloom guard Robert Davis to the floor after a rebound. What followed was a violent slam dunk by 6-foot 9-inch Reggie George who was fouled on the play.
The Astros’ lead went from a 58-55 to 65-55 after George (13 points, 10 rebounds) completed the three-point play and Hall, who finished with game-highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds, hit three of the technical foul free throws and hit another after getting fouled on the ensuing possession.
“I didn’t see what happened,” Chiuccariello said of the foul that provoked some pushing and shoving from both teams following George’s dunk. “I’d just prefer we play basketball.”
Mike Smith added 19 points for Shepard. Joe Chapman led Bloom (15-10, 2-7) with 19 while Antonio Cool added 12.
Bill Harrison.
Up next: Friday at Homewood-Flossmoor.
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19. Neuqua Valley
Keelan Amelianovich scored 10 points in a decisive 14-3 run in the fourth quarter as Neuqua Valley (22-2, 12-0) rallied to a 76-62 victory over East Aurora in the Upstate Eight. Amelianovich finished with 30 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats.
Darice Venson scored 11 points as East Aurora (12-10, 7-5) jumped out to a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Tomcats led 36-33 at the break before Neuqua Valley turned the tide in the second half.
“In the first half obviously we did not play our game,” Amelianvich said. “In the second half, we wanted to come out and show the pride that all of us have, and we picked up our game. East Aurora’s always a tough gym to play in, so this is a good win for the team.”
Up next: Tuesday at Streamwood.