Naperville Central improves its already stingy defense

Naperville Central entered Tuesday night giving up an average of 41 points a game.

The Redhawks were one point better. Their zone defense forced 16 Waubonsie Valley turnovers in a 51-40 victory in nonconference boys basketball action in Aurora.

Waubonsie Valley's only lead came on the first score of the game when Brian Phillips knocked down a 3-pointer on the first possession. Naperville Central (11-7) didn't relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

"We talked the last couple of weeks about limiting the other team's possessions," Naperville Central senior Matthew Meier said. "We slowed the game down, got good shots and I think that helped us tonight."

The Warriors (6-10) managed to tie the game twice in the second quarter, the last coming on a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Chris Karkazis that made the score 13-13.

The Redhawks closed the first half on an 11-0 run as Nate Dahl's drive and layup, followed by a three-point play helped put some distance between them and Waubonsie Valley.

Emmanuel Rugamba's 3-pointer at the buzzer put Naperville Central up 24-13 at the half.

"I thought everybody that played contributed in some way," Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer said. "It was a nice team win on the road and it was one that we needed. Defensively, we came in giving up 41 points a game, so to give up only 40 in someone else's gym, I'm pleased with that."

A 3-pointer by Karkazis trimmed a 10-point Redhawks lead to 32-25 to start the fourth quarter, but Naperville Central scored on its next three possessions, including two straight three-point plays by Meier, followed by a steal and layup from Rugamba.

Waubonsie Valley got as close as 6 points when Phillips drove toward the free-throw line, created space between him and his defender and knocked down a jumper with 3:18 left to cut the lead to 41-35.

But Alex Pomeroy all but put the game away with a 6-0 run as he scored on three straight possessions, all inside, with assists from Rugamba, Meier and Dahl.

During that stretch Meier forced a Waubonsie Valley turnover on an inbounds play, while Pomeroy had a steal on the Warriors' next possession.

"We just had too many turnovers," Waubonsie Valley coach Chaz Taft said. "(Naperville Central) does a good job with the zone. They extended it out and we just kept not faking it to make it and they kept getting deflections. It hurts when you have 16 turnovers. We've got to do a better job taking care of the basketball."