West Aurora holds off Bibbs, West Chicago
When the defensive alignment changed Friday, West Aurora boys basketball player Camron Donatlan elevated himself to a different zone.
The 6-foot-3 junior point guard was at the forefront of a strong fourth quarter that carried the Blackhawks to a 57-51 victory at West Chicago to remain unbeaten in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division.
"During the first, second and third (quarters), I just had to get my teammates involved, be a floor general. In the fourth quarter it was crunchtime," Donatlan said. "We just had to get stops and then we did. And then we just had to lock up Tai Bibbs the last two minutes so he wouldn't get a shot off."
The Blackhawks (9-4, 3-0) led most of the second half but couldn't shake the Wildcats (12-4, 1-2), bolstered primarily by Bibbs' phenomenal 35-point effort with five 3-pointers.
In the final quarter Donatlan had 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a blocked shot. Perhaps his biggest play was driving the left baseline and finding a wide-open Ben Young on the right side for a 3 and a 53-50 lead with 1:42 left.
"They went to man (-to-man defense) and that allows Camron to be a little more creative than when they are in a zone," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said. "Your better players, you want them to take over at the end of the game and he was able to do that and he facilitated as well. Ben came in and hit a big 3 after sitting for a while."
Donatlan finished with 15 points, having two relatively quiet middle quarters after two 3s in the first. Junior Jared Crutcher had 13 points, senior Caleb Siler had 10 and junior Young had 8 with two 3s. Crutcher's 8 points in the second quarter helped the Blackhawks end the half with an 8-0 run for a 26-22 advantage.
West Chicago coach Bill Recchia said Bibbs has asked to be released from his commitment to Drake after the resignation of coach Ray Giacoletti on Dec. 6.
Bibbs was 10 for 20 from the field Friday, 10 for 10 from the free-throw line and added 5 steals. Jason Gimre added 6 points for the Wildcats, who controlled 5 offensive rebounds for the game.
"I knew this was going to be a battle. I'm not surprised it came down to the wire like it did," Recchia said.
"It's two basketball teams taking punches and throwing punches. We knew Young was their shooter and that was the frustrating thing, leaving him alone in the corner. That 3 was a dagger that he hit."
After Young's 3 the Blackhawks' defense got a five-seconds call on the court. When the Wildcats missed a game-tying 3-pointer on their next possession, Donatlan whipped the rebound down court to Damien Virgen for an uncontested layup with 12 seconds left. Young added two free throws with 3.7 seconds.
The last three Young felt as excited about was a game-tying one at home last season - against West Chicago.
"When I got it (from Donatlan), I saw all of that open space. That's a shot I practice every day 24/7. I knew it was going to go in," Young said.
West Aurora, which lost three of its last four games, already has surpassed last season's 8-18 record and held West Chicago to its third lowest point total of the season.
"We want to try and keep them in the 50s. (Bibbs is) going to get points and it's not like it's the first team he's put 35 up against. He's a good player," Johnson said. "Last year we don't win that game. This year we've got guys who have been through it and they get it done."
The Wildcats had won four straight and six of their last seven. They had four free throws on seven possessions after Bibbs' last basket Friday - a 3 for their final lead at 47-46 with 4:02 left.
"That's the time when other people have to step up. We've got other guys who can put the ball in the hole and we didn't do that," Recchia said. "That's not the reason we lost. You can look back at so many different possessions. You add those (various aspects) up, two or three of those and there's six points."