Waubonsie eats up St. Charles North

The postgame pizza in the Waubonsie Valley locker room was devoured in minutes.

Yeah, this was a hungry boys basketball team.

Six days after a disappointing loss to Manley, the Warriors took it to St. Charles North in a 67-44 Upstate Eight Conference win in Aurora.

"We were hungry for that win," Warriors junior Jelani Johnson said. "We couldn't embarrass ourselves again. We had to come out and show everybody how good we are."

Waubonsie Valley came out firing early, knocking down 10 of 14 shots with four 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Justin Peaster hit back-to-back 3-pointers from the left corner, and Kevin VandenBerg's follow shot and steal and score made it 12-5 just three minutes in.

Johnson and Josh Daniels also hit 3-pointers in the quarter, and Johnson's basket in the lane to end the quarter made it 24-14.

"We came out with high intensity," Peaster said, "and we were able to put them away early. We got back to the drawing board after last Sunday. The shots fell tonight."

As good as the shooting was early, it was the Warriors' defense that stood out from their last game.

Waubonsie Valley held St. Charles North without a basket from the field for the entire second quarter, and forced 12 turnovers in the first half.

Nick Neari's score with 4:56 left in the third quarter was the North Stars' first basket in 12 minute, 49 seconds.

"I was more proud of our defensive effort tonight," Warriors coach Steve Weemer said. "I know our offense is always going to come, but our defense was really good. That's what we need."

Neari scored 14 points and Tim Janeway 12 for the North Stars (13-10, 6-3), who had won 11 of 13 coming in.

"We weren't ready to play at the speed that they were playing at," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "We're better than we showed."

VandenBerg scored 16 points, Peaster 11 and Johnson 11 for Waubonsie Valley (19-4, 7-0), which maintained its half-game lead on Neuqua Valley in the conference race.

Johnson's 9 rebounds also led the Warriors' 43-26 edge on the glass.

"We had a tough week of practice. We got after it, and they responded," Weemer said. "That's the way you come back after a loss."