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West Aurora makes easy work of Waubonsie Valley

Damian Virgen has a proclivity for scoring in bunches for West Aurora.

Tuesday night in Plainfield, Waubonsie Valley employed its game plan as an underdog in the Class 4A regional boys basketball semifinal with promising results.

But the Warriors would have a lone second-half lead as Virgen, a senior guard, scored on four consecutive field-goal attempts early in the fourth quarter.

West Aurora was never tested after regaining its lead early in the third quarter in a 60-35 victory at Plainfield South.

The Blackhawks (22-4), the second seed in the Romeoville sectional, scored 36 of the final 46 points of the game in cruising into the championship on Friday.

It was the 14th consecutive win for West Aurora, which ended the No. 15-seeded Warriors' season at 13-18.

"There's a reason they haven't lost since Christmas," Waubonsie Valley coach Jason Mead said of West Aurora.

The Blackhawks, who will face either Andrew or Plainfield North on Friday, scored the final 7 points in the second quarter to lead 24-21 at halftime.

"The first half we executed the game plan," Mead said.

"They try to get the best shot possible," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said of the Warriors. "That's their offense."

Eric Cannon had a 3-point play for Waubonsie Valley for the Warriors' last lead of the game at 25-24.

But Traevon Brown - one of four West Aurora starters in double figures - capped a 13-4 run to close the third quarter.

The second half proved to be an offensive nightmare for Waubonsie Valley as four different players were able only to score a field goal apiece.

Virgen, meanwhile, had 5 field goals alone after the intermission.

Virgen had back-to-back uncontested layups to start the fourth quarter - triggered by a Camron Donatlan steal and Jared Crutcher block - that were the symbolic undoing of Waubonsie Valley.

"I know if I glide back in transition, (my teammates) will get it to me," Virgen said. "Coach told us to run our offense - and we took off from there."

"(Virgen) gets it," Johnson said. "He wants to make sure we move on."

Donatlan scored 9 of his 11 points in the opening three quarters, but the Blackhawks' leading scorer dominated the final period with his defensive rebounding and 4 assists.

"My coaches were telling me to facilitate," Donatlan said. "They told me to get my teammates involved. Our rebounds really helped us in the second half."

Crutcher also finished with 11 points for West Aurora; Brown matched the two 3-pointers of backcourt mate Virgen to add 10.

Markus Skeete had 10 points to pace Waubonsie Valley.

"In the second half we lost our discipline," Mead said. "I think we were afraid of their athleticism."

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