West Aurora blows past Glenbard East for 7th straight win
Gathering steam.
Glenbard East was game early, but West Aurora was an out-of-control train on downhill tracks as the first half mercifully came to an end for the Rams' boys basketball team Friday night.
West Aurora three-sport superstar Camron Donatlan had a steal at half-court and layup in the final second before the break to give the Blackhawks a 25-point lead at the intermission.
Donatlan and his four fellow West Aurora starters were barely needed in the second half as the Blackhawks mauled the Rams 72-36.
With its Upstate Eight Valley victory in Aurora, the Blackhawks (15-4, 6-0) have not lost this calendar year after claiming a seventh straight win.
"I think tonight you have to give all the credit to West Aurora," Glenbard East coach Scott Miller said. "They did everything right tonight. They were trying to prove the first time (we played) was a fluke."
West Aurora guard Traevon Brown had to hit a 3-pointer late in regulation to help hand Glenbard East one of its five gut-wrenching overtime losses earlier this season in Lombard.
But it was all West Aurora after erasing its lone deficit of the game by scoring 37 of the last 48 points of the opening two quarters to lead 42-17 at halftime.
Jared Crutcher was the game-leading scorer for the second consecutive West Aurora one-sided win with 18 points.
Donatlan and third guard Damian Virgen scored their 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the first half.
Most important, Donatlan, Vigen and Brown, who finished with 8 points, had 5 assists each as West Aurora had 22 team assists on its 30 made baskets.
"We're playing as a team," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said. "It's not one person doing everything. We have multiple people buying into what their jobs are. Guys are not worried about what their box score looks like."
Brown and Crutcher were the only West Aurora starters to score after halftime, giving Johnson plentiful opportunities to give his bench players time to shine.
Moshe Rogers and Hezekiah Salter made the most when inserted in the contest.
"We just had a great week of practice," said Rogers, the Blackhawks' junior guard who hit two 3-pointers in scoring 8 points. "We have really banded together. We have been holding each other accountable. I think our team chemistry has really grown since Pontiac."
Salter saw only mop-up duty in the Blackhawks' first game at the Christmas tournament.
"As long as we're winning the game, I'm always happy," said Salter, who scored all 7 of his points in the fourth quarter. "We're a versatile team. We're using everything that we have."
James Peterkin led Glenbard East (7-13, 2-4) with 13 points.
"We have to play better, we have to defend better, we have to coach better," Miller said.