WW South's win streak snapped
It was the end of an era for the Wheaton Warrenville South boys basketball program Friday night.
The No. 10 seed of the Class 4A East Aurora sectional complex, the Tigers came into the West Aurora regional championship against Downers Grove South riding a wave of momentum after draining 16 3-pointers in their semifinal win.
The Tigers' majesty from beyond the arc was not continued against the Mustangs, who had two significant runs during their 68-52 victory in Aurora.
No. 3 seed Downers South won its 18th consecutive game behind a combined 42 points from junior guard Jerron Wilbut and senior post Ziggy Riauka, who scored 23 and 19 points, respectively. The Mustangs face second-seeded Glenbard East on Wednesday at East Aurora.
WW South (19-10) had its 10-game winning streak snapped despite Reilly O'Toole's team-high 22 points and 12 from Travis Kern. The Mustangs' triumph also concluded the nine-year coaching tenure of Mike Healy.
"I am so honored and thankful for what I have been able to do," said Healy, who will tend to his athletic director position full-time.
O'Toole, an Illinois football recruit, was equally emotional in defeat: "Basketball is for sure my first love. This is my last basketball game. (Healy is) a great basketball coach, but he's an even better person."
"He's a tremendous coach in the area," said Downers South coach Jay Baum.
The Tigers' perimeter artfulness was evidenced early against the Mustangs. WW South raced to a 23-15 lead midway through the second quarter. Unfortunately for WW South, however, it did not score over the final 4:16 of the quarter.
Downers South (25-3) responded with an 11-0 burst, capped by Wilbut burying a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 26-25 lead at the break.
"We got tired there at the end of the second quarter," Healy said. "We had some turnovers."
"I was running all over the court and just kind of died," O'Toole said of the stretch.
In the third quarter WW South slowed athletic off-guard Wilbut, but Riauka was the difference in the second half. The 6-foot-8 post was unstoppable in the low block, scoring 11 of his 19 points after the intermission.
Downers South, which scored at the buzzer in all four quarters, led 45-38 after a Kevin Honn conversion to close out the third.
Falling behind by as many as 14 points early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers mounted one last run, fueled by a 6-point personal run by O'Toole. But Downers South ended the game on a 14-4 run to conclude the Tigers' season.
"They have five offensive threats," Healy said of the Mustangs' versatility.