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Better start keys Metea Valley win over Naperville Central

Metea Valley played its second straight boys basketball game against a Naperville school, but the Mustangs on Tuesday barely resembled the team that had lost on Friday.

The biggest difference was a quick start against visiting Naperville Central that led to an impressive 75-60 defeat of the Redhawks. But Metea Valley's talented sophomore Malik Hall added that another key difference might have been just that it was a midweek game.

After getting blitzed and falling behind Naperville North by 20 points early in the second quarter Friday, the Mustangs scored first on Tuesday, led throughout - aside from a trio of 1-point deficits - and then finished off Naperville Central with a strong fourth quarter.

"I think Naperville North just came out hot (Friday)," said Hall, who knocked down five 3-pointers while scoring a team-high 23 points. "Tonight we started off hot and we just never really cooled down. We played well with the lead. If they came close we just extended it."

Naperville Central (12-9, 6-5) made a little run at the end of the third quarter and trailed just 47-43 after baskets inside from Harry Hallstrom and Benjamin Wolf. But the Mustangs opened the final quarter with a 6-0 run that saw Hall muscle inside for a layup and Del'Ron DelaRosa come away with a steal and a layup.

The Mustangs, who went 18 of 19 from the foul line, then held off the Redhawks' comeback effort thanks in part to free throws and also to a pair of 3s from Hall, who was not at all afraid to take big shots late in the game.

"I think it was because it was a Tuesday night and most people are just chilling on a Tuesday night after practice," Hall said while trying to explain his team's ability to avenge an early season loss to the Redhawks. "At the beginning of the year, I was kind of struggling with how to score and how to help the team. As the season's gone on I've noticed how our offense works against other people and how I can score throughout our offense. I've gotten more comfortable."

Hallstrom stayed comfortable for Naperville Central, finishing with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Matthew Meier added 15 points, but the visitors struggled to keep pace with the Mustangs' speed and balanced attack. Jeremy Hunter had 16 points and DelaRosa 13 points and 5 steals to complement Hall's big night.

"The end of the third quarter we're down 4 and looking good. Then we just got beat in transition, we got beat off the dribble, and we got beat off the pass," Redhawks coach Pete Kramer said. "It didn't help with Hall hitting all those 3s. He shot the heck out of the ball. He's long and he's quick and he can shoot it."

Mustangs coach Bob Vozza felt his team played well Friday at Naperville North after falling behind big, and he was happy to see that solid play show up from the opening tip this time around.

"We talked about it, about the start we wanted to have," he said. "The start we had Friday night, we dug ourselves a hole. We played well after that hole Friday. So I was happy the way we came out, and then we made plays at the end to hold them back."

  Montrell Oliver of Metea keeps an eye on Nick Kramer of Naperville Central. This took place during the Naperville Central at Metea Valley boys basketball game Tuesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
  Ben Jones of Metea Valley takes a shot over a Naperville Central defender during the Naperville Central at Metea Valley boys basketball game Tuesday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com
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