W. Aurora backcourt is in good hands

West Aurora boys basketball coach Gordie Kerkman had a dilemma at the start of this season in deciding who his starting point guard was going to be.

Was it going to be Marcus Cocroft, the junior with quickness, good ball-handling skills and ability to score?

Or, would it be Marquis Stewart, the senior with quickness, good ball-handling skills and…ability to score?

The two guards, who are also good friends, went up to their veteran coach and asked Kerkman if they could play together. Kerkman thought it was a good idea and started them both.

Apparently, the request has paid off, as the Blackhawks are 12-2 overall, 6-0 in the DuPage Valley Conference and ranked No. 4 in the Daily Herald's Top 20.

"Marcus is probably suited a little bit better at point guard than Marquis is, but they really are interchangeable," Kerkman said. "I feel pretty confident with either one at either position."

Stewart started at the point last year and Cocroft subbed for him when he needed a break, but this year, Stewart has moved to the 2-guard spot.

There was no hesitation when asked what Stewart thinks of his new position and playing alongside Cocroft.

"I love it," Stewart said. "One thing I love about it on the defensive end is we know each other really well and we can set each other up. If Marcus is having trouble, I can help him out. We both get a lot of steals like that, getting in the passing lane.

"We are both quick. We both can handle being a point guard and we are both slashers so I love playing with him."

Cocroft couldn't help to agree with Stewart.

"I love it because (Stewart) guards the best player (on the other team) and I can help him out," Cocroft said. "We look for each other. We like to harass other guards and once we do that, it makes it hard for them to get the ball to the big men. We look to use our quickness together."

This is Stewart's third year on varsity. He was on the 2006 team that made it to the state tournament, averaging 1.3 points a game.

As a junior, Stewart averaged 3.5 points a game and has jumped significantly since then, as he's now West Aurora's second leading scorer at 11 points a game.

In Cocroft's first year on varsity last year, he averaged 3.1 points per game. This year, he's at 7.2 points per game.

It's clear both players have made big strides this year.

"I think I've improved a lot with handling the ball and reducing turnovers," Stewart said. "I didn't have the confidence I should have had that I do now."

"I think I've improved penetrating, looking and pushing the ball up the floor," Cocroft added. "I can score, but I look for my teammates more."

Both players were forced to step up at the start of the season when senior center Tyler Thompson missed four games with a broken finger.

Even though Thompson, the team's leading scorer, plays a different position than Stewart and Cocroft, both guards did their part in making up for Thompson's absence, when the Blackhawks went 4-0 without him.

Stewart scored a career-high 18 points and Cocroft scored 10 points against Julian in one of the games without Thompson in Rock Island's Thanksgiving Tournament, which West Aurora won.

"There's no doubt about it, (Cocroft and Stewart) stepped up in a leadership role more than anything else," Kerkman said. "I think everyone stepped up when Tyler was out, but those two were definitely a big influence on keeping everyone up."

Cocroft and Stewart scored 15 points and had 3 steals each in the big win against West Chicago in a game where Cocroft appeared relaxed and at ease before the DuPage Valley Conference contest even started.

With his right thumb wrapped up because of an injury stemming back from the football season, Cocroft was playful with his teammates, air high-fiving them -- and smiling while doing so -- so they wouldn't hit his thumb the wrong way.

By the time the game started, the bandage was off and Cocroft proceeded to play one of the best games he's had all year.

Cocroft said it's important for him to keep his teammates smiling and in a good mood before -- and during -- games.

"My dad always says to have fun," Cocroft said. "I want to keep the team happy, make them laugh. I don't want to be too serious. It's just a game."

"I love the intensity he has when he comes in games," Stewart said of Cocroft. "He's so hyped up, it gets the rest of us going. He's the hyper one."

Stewart also has that same effect on the Blackhawks.

"I'm the goofy one," Stewart said. "I'm the one where if someone is down, I make a joke to get them back up."

When Cocroft and Stewart aren't making their teammates laugh, they are puzzling their opponents with their pesky defense and lightning-quick speed.

Trying to determine which guard is faster is anyone's guess. Even Kerkman can't give an exact answer.

"To be honest, I couldn't tell you," Kerkman said. "Marcus might be quicker, but Marquis is more physical and gets more steals."

"Coach puts him on the main shooter and puts me on the main ball-handler -- I'm probably quicker on the ball, but he's probably quicker in the passing lane," Cocroft added.

"We go through that all the time, but I think I'm quicker," Stewart added. "When I get the ball on the fast break, I can get it down the court quicker, but he's flashier when he's handling the ball. His handles are really crisp."

Cocroft used his quickness during the football season, when he was a wide receiver and defensive back. He finished his first year with the Blackhawks with a pair of touchdowns and 150 yards receiving.

"(Football) keeps me tough," Cocroft said. "It's a physical sport. Basketball is more mental but football makes me stronger. If I get injured, I shake it off and go back in. If I get tackled in football, it's the same thing."

Cocroft has been making his mark on the football and basketball teams, despite being only 5-foot-8. Stewart is in the same boat, as he's 5-foot-9.

But it doesn't matter, according to Kerkman.

"They both play bigger than what they stand," Kerkman said. "Most of the time, they have to guard bigger people…but they've both been strong defensively."

"We both have heart," Stewart added.

Who needs height when you have heart? Stewart and Cocroft have proved that this year and will continue to do so for the rest of the season.