West Aurora 5th at Pontiac
PONTIAC Juwan Starks' career at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament came to a close with a final blaze of glory.
The West Aurora senior forward had a pair of slashing drives for scores and fed Spencer Thomas for an easy score to frame the final 6 points for the Blackhawks in their 50-35 victory over (East Moline) United Township in the fifth-place game of the tournament.
"(The tournament has) meant a lot my career," said Starks, who had 16 points and 9 rebounds in the Blackhawks' second victory over the Panthers this season. He also made the all-tournament team.
"I know what to expect from the fans and my opponents down here."
With its fifth-place triumph West Aurora (11-2) won at least three games at the tournament for the 10th time in the last 12 years.
"Three and one is pretty darn good down here," West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said. "We played four quality teams, maybe not great teams. I thought we could have played better. I was happy with the way we finished."
The Blackhawks also had an immeasurable advantage against the Panthers (10-5), who needed overtime to escape Oak Park-River Forest in their morning semifinal.
"Mentally they wanted to play, but physically they couldn't," Starks said.
"I knew they were tired," United Township coach Marc Polite said. "That's why we played zone. We were trying to keep the game close and try and win it at the end. I have so much respect for coach Kerkman and his program."
The Blackhawks turned back the Panthers at the Rock Island Thanksgiving Tournament 66-60 earlier this year.
United Township opened the game with the first 3 points, yet they failed to score from the field, enabling West Aurora to take the lead for good on Starks' first of two 3-pointers midway through the quarter.
The game see-sawed back and forth for the first half; West Aurora used the efforts of Chandler Thomas to maximum effect.
Using solid positioning and a nose for the ball, Chandler Thomas scored several key buckets off second-chance opportunities to galvanize the Blackhawks' front-runner status.
"I view my role as doing whatever I can to help the team, whether it is putbacks or rebounding," said Chandler Thomas, who had 12 points and matched Starks' 9 rebounds for game-high honors.
Brandon Gossett was once again a factor from his sixth-man position, finishing as the third West Aurora player in double figures with 10 points.
Nursing a slender 31-28 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter, West Aurora ended the game on a 19-7 run as the final score was its largest lead of the game.
Tayvian Johnson led United Township with 13 points.