Waubonsie Valley 68, E. Aurora 53
There was no need for Josh Daniels to shoot a text message to his AAU teammates from East Aurora.
By the sly grin on his face, they know who has bragging rights after Friday.
Daniels scored 24 points and Waubonsie Valley outscored host East Aurora 23-6 in the fourth quarter of a 68-53 nonconference win over the Warriors' cross-town rival.
"Most of those guys play on my AAU team. Yeah, it means a little bit extra," Daniels said.
In a fast-paced game with several shifts of momentum, Waubonsie Valley seized control when it counted.
The Warriors (14-3) trailed 47-41 with 2:20 left in the third quarter, but a layup and pull-up jumper by Daniels got Waubonsie Valley within 2 going into the fourth.
"I didn't think they could guard me off the dribble," he said. "You might as well do what works."
Kyle Obendorf's three-point play on the Warriors' first possession of the fourth quarter gave them a 48-47 lead, Daniels hit a runner on the baseline and Justin Peaster knocked down a corner 3-pointer to cap off a 12-0 run and make it 53-47.
East Aurora pulled within 53-51, but another Warriors 12-0 run was the knockout punch.
"They took it to us in the fourth quarter," East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries said. "I think they just wanted it a little bit more at the end."
The Warriors, fresh off a championship at their holiday tournament the previous weekend, bolted out to a 22-9 lead behind Daniels' 7 first-quarter points.
East Aurora crept to within 36-34 at halftime and took its first lead at 38-36 on a pull-up jumper by Ryan Hayden with 4:56 left in the third quarter. Two baskets by Ryan Boatright made it 43-36.
Hayden scored 15 points for East Aurora (9-5). Heralded freshman point guard Boatright, who made a verbal commitment to Southern Cal before the season, scored 12.
Peaster had 15 points for Waubonsie Valley, which hosts Neuqua Valley next Friday in another rivalry game for the Upstate Eight Conference lead.
Obendorf added 13 points and 9 rebounds, Steve Strickland 9 points and Jelani Johnson 11 rebounds.
"Anytime you win a game on the road that's nice to do, and they're a good team. We'll see them again (Feb. 9, at Waubonsie)," Warriors coach Steve Weemer said. "We caught some breaks and got the momentum going in the fourth quarter."