West Aurora 46, Naperville Central 38

The DuPage Valley Conference game had an atmosphere to match its early significance.

In a battle of undefeated boys basketball teams, West Aurora broke free with the first 7 points of the game and never surrendered its cushion to turn back Naperville Central 46-38 Friday night in Aurora.

With the win on their newly refurbished court, the Blackhawks extended their season-opening winning streak to five while handing coach Gordie Kerkman victory No. 650.

Naperville Central fell to 4-1, 0-1.

Corbin Spearman hit found nothing but net with the Blackhawks' opening shot of the game, and West Aurora used its meticulous, deliberate offense, combined with its trapping defense, to bedevil the Redhawks all evening.

West Aurora was without the services of three-year starter Tyler Thompson, and his big body was needed in the opening quarter as Naperville Central did not allow a defensive rebound in negating its early deficit.

"I told them at halftime that if we didn't start taking care of the boards that we were going to have a hard time winning the game," said Kerkman.

The Blackhawks led 15-10 after the first, and the teams struggled in the second to find a cohesive rhythm.

With the local eyes focused on the three league teams in the state football finals last weekend, the two squads scored impressive Thanksgiving tournaments runs.

Drew Crawford was the focal point for the West Aurora defense after he terrorized his foes at Fenton last week, and the junior was never able to get untracked against the Blackhawks.

West Aurora limited the rangy guard to 6 points on 3 of 12 shooting from the field, and the Blackhawks' pesky three-guard attack picked up the slack for the squad at both ends.

West Aurora nursed a 22-19 lead into halftime, but Markus Cocroft, who led three Blackhawks in double figures with a game-high 12 points, energized the team after the break.

The 5-foot-8 point guard had 3 steals in the second half as the Blackhawks' trademark pressure defense began asserting a game-changing toll.

Crawford brought Naperville Central to within one twice with back-to-back field goals in the third quarter, but a Spearman field goal and driving score from Marquis Stewart off a Cocroft assist helped give the Blackhawks a 34-28 lead after three.

"We try to play as a team more," said Cocroft. "Corbin Spearman and Jamal Blackmond did a good job (on Crawford). If (Crawford) drove to the hole, we had a defender come after him."

Stewart added 11 points for West Aurora, and Spearman finished with 10.

"I don't think we executed like we're capable of, and that's because of their defensive pressure," said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer. "They took us out of what we wanted to do."

West Aurora converted 8 of 10 fourth-quarter free throws to close out the win.

Harrison Daniels hit three 3-pointers to lead Naperville Central with 9 points.