West Chicago knocks off West Aurora in OT
Tai Bibbs' final basket on his career night was a dagger to the West Aurora boys basketball team Friday night.
The West Chicago junior nailed a 3-pointer with his team trailing by a point in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division contest in overtime.
West Aurora never scored again as the Wildcats ended the extra session on a 7-0 run to secure a 72-66 victory in Aurora.
It was the first time West Chicago defeated former DuPage Valley Conference rival West Aurora since the Wildcats ended the Blackhawks' 10-year Class AA regional championship run in 2005.
"Going into halftime, I was struggling with my free throws," said Bibbs, who led all players with 30 points. "I was down on myself. (My teammates) wanted me to take the big shot (in overtime). They had confidence in me."
Bibbs' performance overshadowed brilliant displays by the Blackhawks' Ben Young and Camron Donatlan.
Young drained his seventh 3-pointer of the game with 13 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game four minutes longer, tied at 60-60.
"I pumped-faked and got open," said Young, who finished with 23 points on 7-for-9 from beyond the arc. "I shot with confidence, and it went in."
Donatlan was equally sensational as the Blackhawks' lone returning member with any previous varsity experience used his superior athleticism to score at will around the basket.
"Camron was jumping out of the gym," West Aurora coach Brian Johnson said.
Donatlan finished with a team-high 26 points, despite not playing in the first quarter.
West Aurora (3-8, 1-2) appeared to be in command with a 57-51 lead with less than two minutes to play. But the Wildcats' Quinn Ricci made his presence felt in a major fashion. The senior scored to reduce the deficit to four. Even more important, Ricci stole the ensuing inbounds' pass and scored again while being fouled in the act. Ricci missed the free throw, but West Chicago (12-3, 3-0) secured the loose ball. Mike Bibbs' subsequent 3-pointer made it a 5-point possession for the Wildcats, not to mention a 1-point lead.
"It was a big play made by a senior," West Chicago coach Bill Recchia said of the Ricci steal and field goal. "We have a lot of seniors on the team. These guys have played together for a long time."
"The mistakes we made came back to bite us," Johnson said.
Mike Bibbs finished with 16 points for West Chicago.
West Aurora had only four players score as DaQuan Cross was the third Blackhawk in double figures with 13 points.
West Aurora held a special ceremony to honor iconic coach Gordie Kerkman, who retired last spring after recording the fifth-most wins (805) in state history.
"I don't think any coach can put that (many wins) in perspective," Recchia said. "It's an unbelievable accomplishment."
"I don't think there are too many coaches in the state who were blessed with the talent we've had," Kerkman told the audience.