West Aurora downs East Aurora

Camron Donatlan made sure the temporary East Aurora comeback bid was short-lived.

"In rivalry games, records go away," the West Aurora standout junior said.

In the latest installment of one of the most prolific boys basketball series in state history, Donatlan not only scored 8 consecutive points to begin the fourth quarter but also added seven more of his game-high 25 points before the game ended.

Donatlan made all 6 of his fourth-quarter field-goal attempts at East Aurora Friday night as the Blackhawks cruised in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division with a 64-46 victory.

"We had to stop (the Tomcats) from getting runs," said Donatlan, who scored 15 of the Blackhawks' 18 points in the fourth quarter in the schools' 223rd meeting. "I was trying to get that 30- (point mark), so I could get my 1,000 (career points). We just had to finish the game strong."

"(Donatlan is) a hard kid to guard," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said. "He is consistently getting better. He is going to be a force soon - not that he isn't already."

The inevitable jitters of a storied rivalry were evident in the opening minutes of the game as each team had combined for more turnovers than points in the first minutes.

"It's to be expected (in an East-West game)," Johnson said.

But after two early ties, Donatlan drained his sole 3-pointer to give the Blackhawks a 10-7 lead.

The Tomcats (4-15, 2-4) would trail for the remainder of the game.

West Aurora starters Jared Crutcher and Caleb Siler would be the second and third Blackhawks in double figures with 10 points apiece.

Crutcher scored all 7 of his first-half points in the second quarter; Damian Virgen (5 points) would also contribute a 3-point play and driving score for West Aurora in the second quarter.

West Aurora (15-6, 5-1) entered the break with a 34-23 lead over its archrival.

The Blackhawks' historically nasty defense would limit East Aurora to 10 points over the first 11-plus minutes of the second half.

"We have had a slow third quarter all season (offensively)," East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries said. "West Aurora did what they had to do. They were the better team tonight."

Donatlan began the third quarter by augmenting a pair of free throws with three straight scores along the baseline.

The Blackhawks had their largest lead, 54-33, after the final baseline move by Donatlan.

West Aurora welcomed back guard DaVion Cross, who scored 2 points in his season debut.

"He's going to help them," Jeffries said of Cross.