Metea Valley’s Jeremy Hunter admitted he stole a glance at the scoreboard.
Who wouldn’t with a 20-0 lead?
“I was pretty shocked when I looked up and it was 16-0,” Hunter said. “It was kind of surreal.”
It was real, and Hunter and the Mustangs were off to the races. Their stunning first six minutes was the catalyst to a 58-44 win over host Neuqua Valley in Friday’s DuPage Valley opener.
Hunter scored 15 points for Metea (2-3, 1-0), including nine in the first quarter. Payton Thorne added 13 points and Ashton Creal and Ethan Helwig each scored 10.
Metea led 22-3 at the end of the first quarter and never saw the margin dip below 10. The quarter had the pace of a track meet — just the way the Mustangs like it.
Half of Metea’s first 20 points were scored in transition, starting with Hunter’s layup assisted by Jayden Reed. By the time Helwig scored on the fast break, Neuqua had nine turnovers and it was 20-0.
Creal alone had three steals and three assists during the stretch.
“We want to play fast and make them uncomfortable all game,” said Hunter, who also grabbed six rebounds.
Hunter, a bouncy 6-foot-3 senior forward, is a big part of that defense. He’s an interesting player. On a different team, he would be a wing. He showed why by swishing a couple jumpers.
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But he’s also Metea’s tallest starter, and his versatility helps. Hunter gave away five inches in guarding Neuqua’s Alex Filo. On other occasions, Hunter stepped out and defended Neuqua guard Blaise Meredith.
“He’s got so much length,” Metea coach Matt Walpole said of Hunter. “We put him in some difficult assignments and he responds well. He’s probably a natural (small forward), but for us he’s playing (center), (power forward), and (small forward) at times.”
Hunter nullified Neuqua’s size advantage, holding Filo without a field goal. He even rejected a Filo shot at the rim.
“Just had to try not to let him post me up,” Hunter said. “I’m pretty versatile. I can guard almost anybody.”
Will Stankus scored 14 points to lead Neuqua (2-3, 0-1). While neither Meredith nor Nathan Scott played in the first quarter, they finished with 13 and nine points, respectively.
Scott’s steal and score with 3:06 left drew Neuqua within 47-37, but the Wildcats never got closer. Hunter answered with a layup and assisted on Creal’s basket.
The Wildcats couldn’t overcome their start. Neuqua missed its first seven shots and its first six free throws.
“The second quarter on we fought, but that start killed us,” Scott said. “They just came ready to play and we didn’t. We have to work harder in practice so that never happens again.”
Joshua Welge is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.