West Aurora almost steals one

West Aurora could manage only two first-quarter ties in its boys basketball game against defending Class 4A state champion Whitney Young Saturday night in Lombard.

But the Blackhawks had a chance to steal the victory after closing within a point on a Tommy Koth 3-pointer with 35 seconds to play.

Young missed a one-and-one with less than 10 seconds to play, but Koth had his free-throw line jumper rim in and out with three seconds remaining.

The Dolphins escaped the final game of the Glenbard East When Sides Collide shootout with a 55-54 victory.

"It felt good," Koth said of the potential game-winner. "I'm usually pretty good from that spot on the floor."

West Aurora (11-6) trailed by as much as 12 points midway through the third quarter after suffering 33 percent field-goal shooting in the first half (9-for-27) while falling behind 26-20 at the break.

The Blackhawks missed seven consecutive 3-pointers before Marquis Howard connected from beyond the arc early in the fourth quarter.

Young (12-6) still led by 9 points midway through the fourth quarter, but the Blackhawks' collective tenacity on the offensive glass and a brilliant spark from freshman Camron Donatlan brought a renewed sense of optimism.

Roland Griffin struggled on the perimeter but still managed to collect game highs of 15 points and 9 rebounds.

"You have to stay around the basket and find ways to score," the Illinois State-bound forward said. "(My perimeter game) was off a little bit, so I just got closer to the rim."

Donatlan, meanwhile, had three inside scores late in the game as part of his 10-point night.

Young turned the ball over five times over the course of the last half of the fourth quarter to further bolster the West Aurora spirits.

Koth connected deep on the left wing to bring the Blackhawks to within what proved to be the final score.

"Camron gave me a great pass, and I knocked it down," said Koth, the third West Aurora player in double figures with 14 points.

West Aurora tried to force another turnover on the ensuing Young possession, and more time ran off the clock as the Blackhawks had a foul to give.

Missing the front end of the bonus typically does not auger well, but Young survived behind 13 points apiece from Lucas Williamson and Joseph Toye.

"I was like a kid in a candy store," Young coach Tyrone Slaughter said of his first encounter with West Aurora legend Gordie Kerkman.