Fox, DuPage boys basketball notes: Waubonsie Valley continuing perfect season

Waubonsie Valley stretched its season-long winning streak to 18 games with Monday’s 57-43 victory over Carmel at the Wheaton Warrenville South MLK Showcase.

Two days earlier, the Warriors handed Normal Community its second loss in 20 games, as junior point guard Tyreek Coleman’s driving layup with 38 seconds remaining provided the winning margin in a 40-38 decision.

Coleman, who paced the Warriors with 18 points, received high praise from Warriors coach Andrew Schweitzer.

“I think Tyreek had a special game,” Schweitzer told Daily Herald correspondent Bobby Narang following the contest. “He really stole the show at moments out there and had clutch baskets.”

Coming into the season, Schweitzer felt Coleman was one of those “under the radar” type players because he did not play AAU basketball last spring/summer.

“I think he is a Division 1/Division 2 talent,” the coach said.

The way the Warriors are playing, Coleman’s stock should be rising fast.

Despite giving up significant height to Normal’s 6-foot-10 Jaheem Webber and 6-8 Noah Cleveland, the Warriors prevailed thanks in part to the play of 6-6 junior forward Cade Valek and 6-2 senior Matt Sessom.

Webber and Cleveland finished with a combined 15 points for the Ironmen.

“It starts and ends with our defense,” Schweitzer said of his team earlier in the season. “Our defense will determine our result every time out.”

Waubonsie Valley (5-0 in conference), which holds a 1 ½-game lead over Neuqua Valley (3-1) in the DuPage Valley Conference standings, hosts Naperville Central (6-14, 0-5) Friday night – the Warriors’ fifth home contest of the season.

On Saturday at 12:30 p.m., the Warriors will receive another huge nonconference test against Southwest Prairie Conference West leading West Aurora (14-5, 8-0) at the Marmion Shootout.

The Blackhawks are led by 6-4 junior forward Terrence Smith, 6-3 senior guard Jayvyn Marion, and 5-9 senior guard CJ Savage.

Conference races heating up

There are several interesting conference races throughout the area, as the season nears the midway point.

The DuKane Conference appears to be a 3-team race between defending runner-up finisher Lake Park, Batavia, and Glenbard North.

Lake Park (17-3), led by senior Cam Cerese, sits atop the DuKane standings with an unblemished 7-0 mark, followed by Batavia (13-5) at 6-1, and Glenbard North (15-6), 1 ½ games behind the Lancers.

Important upcoming dates include Lake Park at Batavia, Jan. 19; Wheaton Warrenville South at Glenbard North, Jan. 25; Glenbard North at Lake Park, Feb. 2; and Glenbard North at Batavia, Feb. 14 (regular-season finale).

Batavia stayed within striking distance of the Lancers with last week’s 31-29 victory over Wheaton Warrenville South. Senior guard Nate Nazos, the son of Bulldogs head coach Jim, provided the game-winning points on a layup with 12.8 seconds left.

Junior guard/forward Jax Abalos paced the Bulldogs with 16 points, including five 3-pointers. Seniors CJ Valente, Ben Fiegel, Charlie Whelpley, and Kyle Porter have also been solid contributors.

Batavia dropped a 51-46 decision to Moline in Monday’s Quad Cities Shootout.

Glenbard North wrapped up a 3-1 weekend with Monday’s 72-51 victory over Willowbrook at the WW South MLK Shootout. Jalen Crues led the Panthers with 19 points, while JJ Hernandez added 14 points.

In the Upstate Eight, Fenton (17-3) has reeled off 8 consecutive conference victories and owns a half-game lead over South Elgin (10-9, 8-1). The Bison feature point guard Xavior Gonzalez, Alejandro Diaz, and Brandon Block.

The teams square off on Feb. 6 at South Elgin. Fenton won the first meeting, 46-40, in Bensenville.

Glenbard South (12-7), Bartlett (9-10), and Glenbard East (6-13) are tied for third place with identical 6-3 records.

Important upcoming games include Fenton at Bartlett, Jan. 18; Glenbard South at Fenton, Jan. 23; Glenbard South at South Elgin, Jan. 27; Glenbard East at Fenton, Jan. 30; Bartlett at South Elgin, Feb. 2; Bartlett at Glenbard South, Feb. 6; and Bartlett at Glenbard East, Feb. 13.

Meanwhile, Crystal Lake South (17-2, 8-0) brings a 3-game lead into this week’s Fox Valley Conference action.

Led by junior guard AJ Demirov, the Gators are 3 games up in the loss column on defending champion Burlington Central (5-3), Huntley (5-3), Jacobs (5-3), McHenry (4-3), and Cary-Grove (4-3).

Upcoming FVC games to watch include Jacobs at Burlington Central, Jan. 17; Cary-Grove at Huntley, Jan. 19; Jacobs at McHenry, Jan. 19; Crystal Lake South at Burlington Central, Jan. 23; McHenry at Burlington Central, Jan. 30; Burlington Central at Huntley, Feb. 2; Crystal Lake South at Huntley, Feb. 6; and Huntley at McHenry, Feb. 16.

Brrrr....

Last weekend’s snowstorm, followed by bone-chilling temperatures – literally put the freeze on some local action.

The Burlington Central MLK Tournament, originally scheduled as a 3-day event, was shortened to a Monday-only format after last Friday’s games were moved to Saturday before being canceled.

Meanwhile, all 5 Upstate Eight Conference games scheduled for Tuesday were postponed due to below-zero temperatures.

Night of Hoops Saturday

Batavia hosts its 30 th annual Jim & Sylvia Roberts Night of Hoops on Saturday.

The varsity schedule includes Larkin vs. St. Charles East, 1:30 p.m.; Conant vs. Burlington Central, 3 p.m.; Hinsdale Central vs. Wheaton Warrenville South, 4:30 p.m.; Oswego East vs. York, 6 p.m.; and Hillcrest vs. Batavia, 7:30 p.m.

Sophomore games, taking place in the Fieldhouse, Middle Gym, and Main Gym, tip off at 10:15 a.m.

Admission is $10 for the entire day.