Glenbard North can't catch up to West Aurora

Glenbard North coach Joe Larson knows that starting strong against a talented team like West Aurora is crucial.

However, it was a fast start in the first quarter that did the Panthers in during West Aurora's 66-52 road victory, keeping the Blackhawks undefeated in the DuPage Valley Conference.

West Aurora (6-1, 3-0) used a 9-0 run early on to eventually build a 15-8 first-quarter lead as Glenbard North (3-3, 2-1) was held to just two field goals in those first eight minutes: a pair of 3-pointers by Josh Fleming, who scored 21 points.

"Being down early to that team, it's going to be a tough task to come back," Glenbard North coach Joe Larson said. "We did a lot of good things in the second half, made a lot of runs, but West Aurora made the plays when they needed to."

A pair of second-quarter free throws by Fleming cut the West Aurora lead to 15-12, but that was as close as the Panthers could get the rest of the way.

Up 29-17 to start the second half, West Aurora matched Glenbard North on nearly every offensive possession in the third quarter. Each team traded baskets back and forth with the Blackhawks holding a slight 23-22 scoring edge during the eight-minute stretch.

"Neither team was blocking out during that stretch, and we were both able to score on a lot of putbacks," West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said. "We were able to keep it at a 10-point lead and match their baskets."

Glenbard North's Troy Jackson finished with 9 of his 13 points in that third quarter, but West Aurora's Josh McAuley kept his team one step ahead as he scored the Blackhawks' first 8 points of the third quarter, two inside the paint and two on putbacks.

"Josh has got a lot of potential," Kerkman said. "That was by far his best game of the season. If he can continue to play like that, he'll make us awfully tough."

McAuley missed much of the preseason conditioning and weight training activities due to an injury.

"Being out there playing and being in shape feels great," McAuley said. "I'm happy to be contributing."

Fleming's baseline 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter trimmed the deficit to 10, but the Panthers could get no closer.

West Aurora's Brandon Gossett scored on a pair of backdoor layups and McAuley had two more tip-ins for good measure to put the game out of reach.

Juwan Starks led the Blackhawks with 21 points, sharing game-high honors with Fleming. Jontrell Walker added 15 for West Aurora.