There’s a serious Class 4A state championship contender in Aurora. Waubonsie Valley opened eyes last season, winning its first 23 games and not losing until February. This year’s team is even better.
Illinois State recruit Tyreek Coleman is the top senior guard in the area. Moses Wilson has blossomed into a likely D1 recruit. But those things were expected.
It’s the rest of the team that impressed in the No. 7 Warriors’ 53-39 win against visiting DeKalb on Friday.
Coleman picked up two fouls in the first three minutes and headed to the bench for nearly ten minutes of play. Waubonsie Valley (7-0, 2-0 DuPage Valley) led 16-10 when he checked back in. Coleman scored the final two buckets of the first half and the Warriors led 23-19.
Coleman took over in the third quarter, scoring nine points in a 12-2 burst that put Waubonsie Valley ahead 40-26.
“Last year he would press sometimes,” Warriors coach Andrew Schweitzer said. “Now he knows when it is his time to take over. And he knows when to create for others. He’s done a really good job of figuring out what each possession calls for.”
Coleman scored 23 points on 9 of 16 shooting.
“The game is definitely slower for me now,” Coleman said. “I just see the court in a different light after having that time on the Under Armour circuit. And these guys make it easy knowing their roles.”
Wilson’s role has expanded. He’s still a thrilling, above-the-rim threat. The 6-5 senior had 15 dunks in two games last weekend. But he’s developed a solid midrange game and is a major threat on defense. He finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
“I have to step up a lot in the scoring role so we can continue to win,” Wilson said. “But this is a great group. Everyone is like family and plays for each other.”
Kris Mporokoso, a 6-3 sophomore, had eight points and four rebounds and 6-7 senior Cade Valek added two points and eight rebounds.
“This is all of our class coming together,” Coleman said. “We’ve been friends on and off the court. We know each other’s tendencies and that has allowed us to play freely and together.”
The Warriors were cohesive and poised, even when Coleman was off the court.
“This group has won everything at every level,” Schweitzer said. “If we are taking care of the ball and playing as hard as we did in the second half, we are going to be in every game. It doesn’t matter who they put across from us.”
Waubonsie Valley lost to Downers Grove North in the sectional semifinals last season. The Warriors have the talent and chemistry to advance much deeper in the playoffs this year.
“Our goals are state championship and an undefeated season,” Coleman said. “We know it is going to be a tough road ahead. We will keep getting everyone’s best game. We have to play every game like the state championship. It’s a tough road but we have the guys to do it.”
Sean Reynolds led DeKalb (4-4, 1-1) with 13 points and junior Davon Grant added nine points and five rebounds. The Barbs have opened the season with a challenging schedule.
“We know we are a really good team we just have to prove it,” DeKalb coach Mike Reynolds said. “I’d put our schedule against anybody in the state but that’s going to prepare us for the long run. We changed that to try and raise our level and we’ve done that.”