Waubonsie Valley finishes with a victory
The numbers all added up for Waubonsie Valley's boys basketball team Friday night.
Not only did the Warriors (9-17, 5-5) receive balanced scoring with three players reaching double figures, but they also earned a 34-21 rebounding edge and shot better than 50 percent from the field during their 55-43 Upstate Eight Conference triumph over host St. Charles East (12-14, 4-6).
Junior guard Jakobi Johnson scored 11 of his team-leading 17 points in the first half, while backcourt mate Tyler Perkins netted 12 points and 6-foot-7 junior center Tyler Edmondson added 10 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench as the Warriors picked up their fourth victory in five games.
"Overall, it was just a great effort tonight," said Warriors coach Steve Weemer. "I was real happy with our defense. They're a team that can shoot the 3-pointer well and they're pretty good off the dribble so you've really got to contain their dribble penetration and close on the shooter.
"I felt our guys did a pretty good of that. Offensively, I thought we made the extra pass tonight and did some nice things."
St. Charles East, which suffered its fourth consecutive loss, took a 12-11 first-quarter lead before the Warriors retaliated with a 9-0 run early in the second period. Alex Edmondson ignited the surge with a 3-pointer while Johnson added a pair of driving layups - the last putting Waubonsie on top 22-14 with 4:43 left before halftime. Tyler Edmondson contributed 8 first-half points with 3 of those baskets coming on the offensive glass.
"He played a real smart game," Weemer said. "He did his role which was to block some shots, rebound and cause some problems on the zone (defense)."
"We knew we had to block out and rebound," Tyler Edmondson said. "We're better than our record."
Waubonsie helped put the game away with a 16-3 tear over the first five minutes of the third quarter, keyed by 3-pointers from Ryan Lippman and Johnson. The Warriors built a 19-point lead with 2:29 left in the third quarter.
"On Tuesday night in the third quarter (in a 41-40 loss to Plainfield South), it was a close game and we came out and got blitzed," Weemer said. "I think our guys learned their lesson."
Waubonsie plays host to West Aurora in Monday's Class 4A regional opener.
"I'm glad to have that momentum going into the regional," Weemer said. "Now it's a new season and we'll see what we can do."
Zack Burns, one of eight seniors playing their final home game, paced the Saints with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Jess Striedl had 7 points, while Colton Kumerow and Drew Vazquez each added 6.
"For this team to be successful, we need more than one option," said Saints coach Brian Clodi. "Zack played a great game and played with a lot of heart.
"I thought it came down to how we shot the ball. We were 7 of 26 from inside the arc and 8 of 20 from the outside. We just didn't make enough plays on the inside."
St. Charles East begins regional play Monday against Elgin in Bartlett.
"The seniors feel bad losing on their home floor, but everybody will be 0-0 going into next week," Clodi said.