Downers Grove South gets a boost against Batavia

Downers South guard Justin Eagins stopped by the scorer's table before tip-off, snagged a Starburst and put it in his mouth.

Then he and fellow senior went Wes Hooker went out and put the Mustangs on their backs.

Eagins and Hooker poured in a game-high 24 points apiece Tuesday to lead host Downers South to an 84-52 Class 4A regional semifinal victory over Batavia.

The third-seeded Mustangs (23-7) advance to Friday night's title game against the winner of Wednesday's Downers North-Willowbrook semifinal.

"I do it all the home games," Eagins said of his Starburst habit. "(Faculty member) Mr. (Zach) Kuhn always gives me one before the home games. It gives me a little sugar boost."

This boost was a little bigger than most. Eagins sank seven straight shots in the first half and began the fourth quarter with a steal and a noiseless dunk, his second this season and first at home.

"I was excited for that one because he's so selfless," said Downers South coach Kris Olson, celebrating his 47th birthday. "Often, he's looking for Wes to throw alley-oops to or kick-outs to Charlie (Furman), so it was nice to see him get a breakaway and get one."

Eagins was selfless enough, finishing with 3 assists to go with 4 steals, but this time it was Hooker who did more of the facilitating. Hooker dished 5 assists and led all players with 11 rebounds.

"I'd say it's probably one of my best games with my assists, just getting the ball to my teammates when everybody else is hitting," Hooker said. "We were all a little nervous inside, but once we got out for the jump ball we could start playing and it just came natural to us. We just did what we always do, which is play hard."

Olson said he was unaware of Eagins' pregame candy routine, but it is no secret among his teammates.

"That's one of his little things that he does before the games," said Hooker, who scored 21 of his points in the first half. "I guess it gets him going for the games, so long as he keeps playing like how he is, I don't mind it."

If the trio of Eagins, Hooker and senior guard Timmeon Gamble keep playing like they did against the 15th-seeded Bulldogs, then the Mustangs could be in for a long playoff run. They accounted for 44 of Downers South's 46 first-half points as the Mustangs built a 46-22 halftime lead.

Gamble, who shot 7 for 8, added 18 points and the senior trio combined to go 27 for 41. The Mustangs shot 61 percent overall.

"That's three seniors that have played a lot of basketball and geared for this moment," Olson said. "I think it helped that last night Batavia's game went to the wire and they had to drive back here. Their legs maybe weren't completely there."

Batavia (12-19) got 23 points from junior forward Jayden Johnson, but senior starters Jack Carlson, Ethan Neibch, Zack Weber and Marko Yager played their final game.

"These ending games are tough," Batavia coach Jim Nazos said. "As high as you were last night (after a win over Naperville Central), the low you feel today.

"But Downers South played well, so you give them credit. I feel bad for the kids who are done. They are model students and I will miss them more as people than anything."