Freshman helps West Aurora throttle East Aurora
There are few boys basketball programs in the state who can match West Aurora in terms of career downstate appearances.
There is a newcomer to remember after the 218th rendition of the Blackhawks' century-plus rivalry with East Aurora: Camron Donatlan.
The small forward led four West Aurora starters in double figures as the Blackhawks turned a close contest after one quarter into its fourth straight convincing victory over the Tomcats at home Saturday night.
Donatlan scored 10 of his 19 points in the third quarter as the Blackhawks' 15-point plurality in the quarter resulted in an 81-58 Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division victory.
It was the schools' first league game since 1997.
West Aurora (3-3, 1-1) leads the all-time series 131-87 after its latest one-sided triumph.
"My teammates were telling me, 'Don't be nervous. Play your game,'" said Donatlan, who not only displayed range on his jumper with two 3-pointers but also slashed to the basket for several easy deuces. "I was able to get out (in transition) and lay it in."
"It's not a matter of if (Donatlan is) going to be good," West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said. "He's pretty doggone good already."
The first quarter was a frenetic eight minutes of fundamentally sound basketball in which West Aurora held an 18-16 lead over the Tomcats (2-4, 1-1).
But the Blackhawks began imposing their will in the second quarter.
West Aurora forced more turnovers (6) than East Aurora had points (5). Marquis Howard had a steal and breakaway lay-in to give the Blackhawks a 36-23 lead at the break.
West Aurora then put the game out of reach with its 25-point third quarter.
Three-year starting point guard Matt Dunn orchestrated the offense to perfection. Dunn scored 10 of his 13 points after halftime while crafting a game-high 6 assists.
"(The triple-overtime loss to Bartlett on Friday) took a lot out of us," Dunn said. "We had to come back. Obviously, my job as the point guard is to get everyone involved, no matter what."
Howard added 18 points for the Blackhawks, and Tommy Koth was the fourth starter in double figures with 15 points.
After failing to score Friday, promising West Aurora sophomore Luis Sanchez, a 6-foot-6 forward, scored his first career points with his 7-point effort.
Sanchez added 7 rebounds and a blocked shot.
Adrian Smith had a game-high 23 points for East Aurora.
"We didn't shoot it very well," East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries said. "We were 2-for-14 (in the second quarter). We're better than what we showed."