West Aurora 46, Glenbard E. 43

The end of the third quarter was the saving grace for West Aurora against Glenbard East Friday night.

In the final two-plus minutes of the third in DuPage Valley Conference boys basketball action in Aurora, the Blackhawks' three 3-pointers dramatically revived their otherwise stagnant offense.

The Rams, who ended the Blackhawks' seven-year run of league titles last year, fought back in the fourth, only to see two potential game-tying 3-pointers miss in the waning seconds.

With its 46-43 victory, West Aurora (13-2, 7-0) opened a two-game lead in the conference at the midpoint of the schedule.

Glenbard East fell to 9-8, 4-3.

Corbin Spearman hit consecutive field goals from beyond the arc to not only give West Aurora the lead for good but also set up the final moments for Markus Cocroft.

The junior guard, who led all scorers with 12 points and 6 assists, drained a 23-footer two seconds before the third-quarter horn.

"I wasn't supposed to take that shot," Cocroft said. "I just decided to shoot the ball, and it went in. We played well at the end of the game."

Glenbard East became the first program in a decade to defeat West Aurora three times in the same season last year, and the Rams were intent on continuing the trend.

In a game with nine ties and seven lead changes, Glenbard East extended its 26-24 halftime lead to 31-26 early in the third behind a Derak Stanback 3-pointer.

But West Aurora would respond with its most effective run of the night.

Cocroft triggered the response with an assist to backcourt mate Marquis Stewart, one of three West Aurora players in double digits with 10 points.

Then Tyler Thompson, the Blackhawks' three-year starter held scoreless to that point, had back-to-back buckets to give West Aurora a 32-31 lead.

Jack Merrithey gave Glenbard East its last lead on an improbable putback, only to see Spearman hit the first of his two 3-pointers from the left wing nine seconds later.

With its 15-2 quarter-closing run, West Aurora led 41-33 heading into the fourth.

"I really thought (the end of the third) was the key to the game," Glenbard East coach Scott Miller said.

"I don't fault our kids' effort one bit. We executed the game plan."

Theo Hicks' lone field goal with 53 seconds remaining framed the climatic finish.

Spearman was the third West Aurora player in double digits with 10 points.

Glenbard East was led by forward Paul Sanders' 10 points; Lee Skinner and Merrithey added 9 apiece, and Stanback finished with 8.

The Rams held a 29-17 edge in rebounds.

"I thought it was one of our worst games of the year," West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said.