While the pep band is playing ...

Time for the halftime show.

It's the unofficial midway point in the boys and girls basketball season, which makes this the perfect time to bring back our hoops edition of Eyes on Five. Kevin Schmit is back with the latest news in DuPage County boys hoops, and Orrin Schwarz returns to do the same for area girls basketball.

For starters, Eyes on Five takes a look back at what was an interesting first half of the season.

1. Boys MVP:

Two DuPage County boys basketball players literally stand above all others as first-half most valuable players.

Glenbard West senior Justin Pierce, committed to William & Mary, led the Hilltoppers to a 12-0 start heading into the holiday break. The 6-foot-6 wing has averaged 24.5 points on 56 percent shooting and 10.9 rebounds.

A three-year starter, Pierce's skill set evolved tremendously in the past year. No longer reliant on the perimeter shot - although he's knocked down 18 3-pointers - Pierce bulked up in the off-season, allowing him to easily post up opponents. His ability to create has become explosive.

The other MVP is also a familiar face. Six-foot-10 Hinsdale South senior center Barret Benson has been just as dominant in his fourth varsity season.

The Northwestern commit, a starter since the day he walked in Hinsdale South's front door as a freshman, was the clear top player in last week's 32-team Jack Tosh Holiday Classic. The Hornets finished third as Benson averaged a tournament-leading 22.2 points on 63 percent shooting from the field and pulled down 11.6 rebounds.

It's been a great first half for a bunch of other area players as well, but Pierce and Benson are the obvious MVPs so far.

2. Parity party:

It's tough to pinpoint one or two boys basketball teams enjoying a surprisingly strong start because the entire area's strength has been somewhat surprising.

True, no one forecast Glenbard West's unbeaten romp. But the Hilltoppers were supposed to be pretty darn good with Pierce and Alex Passi leading the charge.

What the Hilltoppers symbolize is a special start for all of DuPage County.

Between the DuPage Valley Conference and the West Suburban Conference, the talent has been incredibly deep so far. Of the 17 DuPage County teams in those two leagues, 12 boast winning records.

In the face of a brutal schedule, Benet won its first seven games and sits at 11-2. West Chicago and Glenbard East are tied for first place in the Upstate Eight Valley Division. Glenbard South took second at Romeoville and IC Catholic Prep won the ICCP/Westmont tournament.

With so much parity, you never know what might happen in a given game.

Should make for a pretty exciting second half of the season.

3. Girls MVP:

Last year Benet guard Kathleen Doyle was the All-Area captain and second-team all-state while leading the Redwings to the Class 4A championship.

You know she hasn't gotten worse since then.

The Nebraska recruit has been just as much fun to watch this season, especially for Benet coach Joe Kilbride.

"Even on Kathleen's really bad days, I'll turn to my assistants and say, should I take her out?" Kilbride said. "Because even when she's horrible for Kathleen, she's still the best player in the gym most of the time."

As good as the Redwings (14-2) have been, however, Montini has been even better. The Broncos (17-0) won their Montini Christmas Tournament, taking the top spot in just about every poll in the state that might include them. Benet placed third at Montini.

The problem is picking a MVP from the talented Broncos. Like picking your favorite Adele song, it's hard to choose just one.

So we'll just point out that senior guard Lea Kerstein, an Alabama-Birmingham recruit, was named first-team all-tournament at the holiday tournament. How's that for taking the easy way out?

4. Sshhh:

The Wheaton Warrenville South girls don't want you to know they are undefeated in the DuPage Valley Conference, an impressive win over preseason league favorite Neuqua Valley to their credit. The Tigers, who give significant playing time to three freshmen and a sophomore but just two seniors, are 11-4 in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

The Tigers are not the only team that's doing surprisingly well this season, however.

Glenbard East is having one of its best seasons ever. Hinsdale South has 13 wins already, on pace to reach preseason goal 20 thanks in large part to high-scoring senior guard Sydney Kopp.

Glenbard West won just three games last year but has eight wins already this season. Glenbard South and Wheaton North, like WW South, also have rosters dominated by underclassmen yet refuse to admit defeat.

The Raiders are 7-7 after an 0-3 start and could be a Metro Suburban West contender again after all. The Raiders play senior guard Payton Carli and a supporting cast of five sophomores and a freshman.

Turns out those kids can play.

5. Stat time:

The 42nd edition of York's Jack Tosh Holiday Classic went off without a hitch.

The five-day tournament featured 67 boys basketball games culminating in the host Dukes' championship victory over Naperville North on New Year's Eve.

Amazingly, nearly every game started on time.