Perkins, Willowbrook gratified to see progress

First-year Willowbrook boys basketball coach Chris Perkins knew it'd take some time to get the program moving in the right direction.

So far, so good.

The Warriors may have only one win in five games, including a loss to Morton in last week's West Suburban Gold opener, but Perkins already sees a difference between Willowbrook's performance this year compared to last.

"It's been night and day compared to last year," Perkins said. "It's definitely a different feeling. We had so many young players last year, that experience was unbelievable for them."

Willowbrook went 1-3 at the Stagg Thanksgiving tournament, but the performance marked a huge improvement from the year before. Last year their losses came by nearly 40 points a game, as opposed to the 6 points a game this season.

Most important, though, was the Warriors' 59-57 win over St. Laurence. Last year they lost 71-45 to the Vikings.

Willowbrook started last season by losing its first 16 games, winning one game the entire season. Perkins believes getting that first win early will be a big confidence-builder for his team.

"I told the guys we got that monkey off our back," he said. "That win was huge for us."

Making their points:

Off to a 6-0 start, Metea Valley is as anticipated deep, diverse and high scoring.

In four of the first six games leading to tonight's Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division tilt at Bartlett, the Mustangs have landed at least three players in double-figure scoring. They average 76.2 points.

In last Friday's 72-42 win over East Aurora, Kenny Obendorf and Ryan Solomon each scored 14 points, Milan Bojanic notched 13 and Raysean Parker had 10.

The prior game, an 87-65 win at Kaneland, forward Sean Davis' 22 points led Bojanic, Obendorf and Parker all in double figures.

"I just think it's the way we play, it's going to happen each night," Mustangs coach Bob Vozza said of multiple scoring options.

"Some nights some guys might carry a lot of the load depending on if they're feeling good in that game, but we've got the ability to spread things out, which is nice."

Vozza points to backcourt strength including point guard Solomon, Obendorf, Parker and LaShawn Cargo.

Davis, a 6-foot-2 senior, is helping inside while junior post players Shiv Desai and Hayden Barnard are "feeling their way out," Vozza said, though Desai showed flashes as a sophomore.

There's always room for defensive improvement, and Vozza would like to reduce the 17.5 turnovers a game, a byproduct of the Mustangs' up-and-down style.

So far, though, Metea's first senior class is first class.

"Obviously, I think our start has a lot to do with experience and just a group of guys playing well together as a team," Vozza said.

On the road again and again:

Naperville Central is ready to hit the road. For a really long time.

Last weekend the Redhawks (4-2, 0-1 DuPage Valley Conference) played back-to-back home games against Glenbard East and Waubonsie Valley. Hopefully, they were able to enjoy it because their next home game won't be until Jan. 31.

That's 13 straight games and 17 of the first 19 away from home.

"You know what, I don't think it's going to affect our kids as much," said Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer. "I think sometimes it's better to play away from home. I think we're dialed in more, we're more focused."

Naperville Central was supposed to have two additional DVC home games early in the season, but scheduling conflicts forced the sites to be flipped. While that'll make for a tough road trip the next eight weeks, the Redhawks get some payback down the stretch.

Six of the Redhawks' last seven games are at home, including six straight DVC games.

The road trip begins Friday in West Aurora's legendary gym as Naperville Central tries to avoid an 0-2 start in the DVC.

"We've got some young kids, so they're going to experience it for the first time," Kramer said.

Bucking the trend?

After a 2-0 start it's hard to tell if Montini is appreciatively better than in coach Brian Opoka's first three seasons.

Coming off records of 2-23, 3-24 and 6-18 it's probably fair to say the Broncos can only improve.

"It's kind of a real weird spot to be in because (in the past) we've been so young and just kind of happy to be in games. It's hard to make a call," Opoka said.

In its season opener Montini on Dec. 2 beat Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division foe Guerin, 68-50. Opoka no longer schedules games during Thanksgiving break due to the football team's annual playoff run.

Montini followed with a 74-30 win over Luther North. Last season the Broncos beat Luther North just 42-39.

"For us to win two games with scoring differentials of over 15 points is a huge confidence builder for our guys huge motivation to go to practice with the intent to work real hard," Opoka said.

Montini used senior leadership and ball movement to land five different double-figure scorers over those two victories: Rich Bodee and TyShawn Johnson against Guerin; Jon Gibbs, Matt Brachmann and Dan Burke against Luther North.

A test comes Saturday against Immaculate Conception, a conference opponent that has averaged 65 points in a 6-0 start. For a Broncos squad starting to find itself, Opoka doesn't want to make too much of it.

"This isn't a huge game, this is a big game, there is a difference. If we place too much importance on winning this game Saturday night, we don't want the peaks and the valleys to begin," he said.

"It is a big game, no question about it. We'll get a good feeling about where we're at against a real good Immaculate Conception team."

Streaking:

There are two sides to Glenbard East's 29-game winning streak in the DuPage Valley Conference, a streak that continued with last week's 60-52 win at Naperville Central.

The first side is this Rams team's need to create its own identity after last season's run to a third-place finish in Class 4A.

"We talked about this being a new team and a new group of guys," said Glenbard East coach Scott Miller. "We've gone back to last year's group a few times for different things, but we're really trying to make this team their own identity."

The other side of the streak is that it goes beyond one team. It dates back to the 2009-10 team that went 14-0 in the DVC. That means three teams share in the pride of keeping it alive.

"They realize it's a tradition that's built, and they don't want to let up," Miller said. "That fuels them in practice, it fuels them in the games."