Boys basketball: Waubonsie Valley dominates in DVC opener
Waubonsie Valley was victorious in their first four games this season, all nonconference affairs, without allowing their opposition to score more than 29 points in any of those contests.
Friday night they opened their DuPage Valley Conference schedule at Metea Valley, and it was another dominant performance on both ends of the court.
The Wildcats didn’t hold the Mustangs under 30 — the hosts scored 45 — but they still cruised to a 73-45 boys basketball DVC win.
Waubonsie Valley opened a 24-point lead in the second quarter and didn’t look back.
“I’m just lucky to be able to coach this group of kids,” said Wildcats coach Andrew Schweitzer. “They play so hard, they fly around, and I’ve got a football background so I’m probably over the top in terms of scouting.
“I throw a lot at them, and to their credit they execute and they buy in. I’m just so happy with their performance tonight.”
It also doesn’t hurt that Waubonsie Valley has a terrific senior duo leading them on both offense and defense.
Moses Wilson led the Wildcats (5-0, 1-0) with 25 points Friday while classmate Tyreek Coleman scored 21.
And according to Schweitzer, the game of Wilson and Coleman is a lot more than just putting the ball in the bucket.
“What I like about those two is that they know how to pick their spots,” said the coach, “but they are also leading us in assists. They get other people involved when they need to, and they’re going to command a lot of attention all year from defenses.”
Waubonsie Valley got up big early and took a 40-16 advantage in the second period on a rebound and putback from Wilson.
But Metea rallied in the third quarter. They were able to cut into the deficit thanks to three third period 3s by senior guard Tyler Miller (he had four on the game), and 11 points in the stanza by Khalil Jones, another senior guard.
Waubonsie Valley quickly righted the ship, however, going on a 10-4 run to take a 60-34 lead heading into the fourth. Coleman scored 11 of his points in the third.
Wildcats sophomore Kris Mporokoso tallied 5 of his 14 points in the final period.
“We’ve got some (terrific players) like our sophomore here (Mporokoso), who’s got a chance to be special, and Tinney (Josh, a senior guard). We’ve got some dudes and I’m lucky,” Schweitzer said.
Jones led the Mustangs (4-2, 0-1) with 16 points. Miller finished with 12 while Tre Watkins added 6.
Six-foot-7 senior forward Cade Valek had 7 rebounds for the Wildcats, including 5 in the first quarter to help stake his team to a big lead.
Wilson also added 7 boards to his game-high point total, and he said that the first conference game of the year is always a big one, and a place to set the tone.
“We just wanted to get out there tonight and start the DVC (conference schedule) running,” said Wilson.
The senior also talked about the outstanding defensive effort he and his teammates have been putting forth, saying it’s all about “just staying disciplined.”
“Our coach gives us our personnel,” he added, “so we know the guys (the opposition). Honestly it’s about just going out there and executing.”