Naperville Central goes go 3 for 3 vs. West Aurora
If beating West Aurora's boys basketball team twice in a season is difficult, how nasty of an assignment is it to beat the Blackhawks three times?
Ask Naperville Central.
The Redhawks accomplished that feat and more, topping West Aurora 71-60 in Friday's Class 4A Naperville Central regional final.
By winning its first regional title since 2005, second-seeded Naperville Central (26-2) advances to Wednesday's Oswego East sectional semifinals to face No. 3 Bolingbrook (20-6), a 61-57 winner over Glenbard East.
After beating No. 7 West Aurora (20-8) twice during DuPage Valley Conference play, the Redhawks drew the unnerving task of facing the Blackhawks a third time.
Like Naperville North in 1998 and Glenbard East in 2007, however, Naperville Central made it through the grind of three straight over West Aurora in front of a lively crowd of 2,100 fans.
The host Redhawks trailed 44-42 heading to the fourth quarter, but a 19-7 run put them ahead by double digits with three minutes left.
"It's the playoffs, so it's always going to be a huge game," said Redhawks senior Drew Crawford, who scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. "Our school came out and supported us, which was huge. Both teams had real high intensity. We knew this was a game we had to win."
West Aurora knocked down five 3-pointers in the first half as it built a 21-16 lead early in the second quarter. Up to that point, the Blackhawks had held Crawford scoreless.
Keeping Naperville Central close was 6-foot-5 junior Matt Neufeld, who scored 10 of his 23 points in the first half. He also pulled down 12 rebounds including 7 offensive.
As West Aurora focused on slowing Crawford and the perimeter shooters, Neufeld took advantage inside.
"Sometimes it's just like throwing a beach ball in an ocean - everything you put up goes in," Neufeld said. "It's the seniors' last night (playing a home game), so it really meant a lot for me to come out and do it for them."
Crawford found his rhythm in the second quarter, scoring 12 points, and then his 3-pointer early in the third quarter extended the lead to 38-30. West Aurora rallied behind the energy of senior leader Markus Cocroft, who scored in the final minute of the third quarter to give his team a 44-42 lead.
In his final high school game Cocroft led his team with 17 points. Fellow senior Malcolm Graham added 10 points.
"We gave it all we could give, but I guess we didn't get down deep inside like they wanted it," Cocroft said. "We fell apart after they went on that little run."
David Mallett scored 7 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for the Redhawks, who scored 29 points in that period as they pulled away.
"Too many second or third chances, we had problems knowing who we were guarding, covering our men," said West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman. "I would say that was most of it."
BOX SCORE
CLASS 4A NAPERVILLE CENTRAL REGIONAL
Naperville Central 71, West Aurora 60
West Aurora - Cocroft 7 2-3 17, Hughes 0 2-2 2, Blackmond 2 1-2 6, Carey 3 0-0 7, Starks 2 3-5 7, Graham 2 4-4 10, Vaughn 3 0-0 9, Holt 0 0-0 0, Wyeth 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 12-16 60.
Naperville Central - Crawford 9 6-7 28, Linne 1 2-2 4, Mallett 4 3-3 13, Ondik 0 2-2 2, Neufeld 9 5-7 23, Pomeroy 0 1-3 1. Totals 23 19-24 71.
West Aurora 16 12 16 16 -60
Naperville Central 16 16 10 29 -71
3-point baskets: WA: Vaughn 3, Graham 2, Cocroft, Blackmond, Carey. NC: Crawford 4, Mallett 2.
Fouled out: NC: Ondik.