After a .500 COVID-shortened spring season, Naperville Central has exploded onto the area’s boys basketball scene this winter.The Redhawks are 19-7 and have a chance at winning a share of the DuPage Valley Conference title for the first time since 2009-10, depending on what happens Tuesday night in its game with Metea Valley and Neuqua Valley’s tilt with DeKalb.

With a 60-46 win over Naperville Central on Friday, the DeKalb boys basketball team bounced back from a tough loss in its last game and avenged a loss to the Redhawks from last month.

Big-time players step up in big-time situations. Naperville Central had two of that description Friday night.

Friday night’s boys basketball game between visiting Neuqua Valley and Naperville Central looked like one of those contests that would go down to the wire.

Pambos Nicoloudes will remember his first start of the season. His 10 points and 10 rebounds were crucial to the Naperville Central boys basketball team beating Waubonsie Valley 63-52 on Friday night in Aurora.

It is a good thing Fremd has fingernails.After leading by 16 midway through the third quarter, the Vikings needed those nails to hang on to a 60-55 win over Naperville Central Monday in the championship game of the Lakes Martin Luther King tournament in Lake Villa.

Naperville Central dispatched the host Eagles 83-46 at the MLK Lakes High School boys basketball tournament Saturday afternoon in the semifinal round.

The Naperville Central boys basketball team finished this week successfully trying to get its groove back after an unwanted hiatus.

As a high-level baseball player, Ryan Huskey recognizes how a single error can open the floodgates.Similarly, the Geneva senior knows that any extra possession he can get for his team on the basketball court gives the Vikings another opportunity to score.The 6-foot-5 senior gave the Vikings a huge boost, grabbing 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, and Geneva held off a late rally to defeat Naperville Central 41-34 in Wednesday night’s semifinal in the 92nd Annual Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic at DeKalb.

When you play your cross-town rival, it’s usually a good idea to throw out the records. Nobody sent Naperville Central that memo Friday.

Here’s a look at the boys basketball season in the DuPage Valley

The Illinois High School Association has sanctioned the Naperville Central High School football team for violations of its transfer by-laws, Naperville Community Unit School District 203 announced Wednesday, adding the district and Naperville Central High School accept full responsibility for these violations.