Boys basketball: Waubonsie Valley edges Metea Valley in DVC opener

As Waubonsie Valley tried to hold off a late Metea Valley run during Friday’s DuPage Valley Conference opener in Aurora, Kris Mporokoso suddenly crumpled to the floor behind the basket with a cramp.

That sent Mporokoso to the bench, and he knew he had to get back on the court quickly as the Warriors saw their seven-point lead cut to two.

“I just had to get back in there,” said Mporokoso, who tied for the team lead in both points (18) and rebounds (seven). “Just to be a team player, I had to get back in there no matter what condition my body (was in) just to get the win.”

Mporokoso did return, and Waubonsie Valley held on for a 48-46 win that came down to the very end.

With 10.4 seconds left, the Warriors (3-1, 1-0) had to inbound four straight times as the Mustangs (2-2, 0-1) used up their fouls to give before Mporokoso finally was sent to the free-throw line to try and ice the game.

Mporokoso missed both free throws, and with Waubonsie Valley's defenders playing back, Metea Valley regained possession and called a timeout with five seconds remaining to draw up a play that would either tie or win the game.

Tre Watkins, who had hit the 3-pointer that kick-started the Mustangs’ fourth-quarter run, fired a prayer at the buzzer that missed, and the Warriors escaped with the victory.

“It's those moments where it can really go either way,” Waubonsie Valley coach Andrew Schweitzer said. “And credit to them. They bucked up, they played good defense, they got their stops, they listened to what we said. I mean, it's really hard to inbound the ball four different times because of foul trouble and not turn it over.”

Aidan Lee matched Mporokoso’s 18 points by scoring 16 in the second half, which included three 3s in the third quarter. Kyler Payne had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Watkins paced the Mustangs by scoring 12 of his 14 points on four 3-pointers. He achieved a double-double with 10 rebounds and also had four assists.

Marcus Wallace contributed 12 points, four of which came on two dunks, and six boards.

“Good high school basketball game, two good high school basketball teams,” said Metea Valley coach Isaiah Davis. “Give them credit. They made one more play than we did down the stretch, but we get to play them again (Jan. 23). Should be another good ballgame.”

Before the boys teams tipped off, the girls teams, who also opened conference play, played a game that wasn’t nearly as close. The Warriors (7-0, 1-0) crushed the Mustangs (1-5, 0-1) in an 80-23 decision.

Danyella Mporokoso, Kris’ sister, outscored Metea Valley by herself with 29 points, and Jailyn Cutts paced the hosts with seven points.