Whether he was slam-dunking, swishing a three-pointer or sinking free throws, Dameon Mason couldn’t miss in the third quarter Friday night.
Except one time, when the 6-foot-5-inch West Aurora junior was attempting his second slam and he fumbled the ball. But Mason recovered in time to pass to Mike Soderlind, who scored on the play.
It was that kind of game for Mason and his Blackhawks teammates. The kind where things go right after a miscue. The result was a 77-51 rout of visiting Wheaton Warrenville South (6-3, 3-1) in a DuPage Valley game.
“We were just flowing,” Mason said. “We were having fun.”
Mason scored 13 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter.
Fifth-ranked West Aurora (7-1, 3-1), which led by seven at the half, extended its lead to 16 points by the end of the third period.
“All the shooting drills all week in practice, the extra time we put in, it worked out for us tonight,” Mason said.
Before the game West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman said his team was struggling offensively.
After the game Kerkman and guard Jaeh Thomas, a sophomore whose name is often mistaken for Jay because of the pronunciation, praised the improvement.
“It’s only one game, but it’s something you want to see,” Kerkman said.
A crowd of more than 2,000 saw it Friday.
“We came out here trying to find our stroke,” Thomas said. “It’s the most unselfish game we played all year.”
Thomas has been fighting flulike symptoms the last two weeks, but he had no trouble Friday. He had 13 points and five assists.
Wheaton Warrenville South’s Wesley DeVries, a 6-foot-9-inch forward, was held to 10 points. James Wangler led the Tigers with 20.
“We didn’t give them much of a ballgame,” Wheaton Warrenville South coach Barry Brennan said. “They’re a good team when they’re not shooting well. They’re an excellent team when they are.”
Especially when Mason is playing well.
“He’s got a world of potential,” Kerkman said. “He could be a real good one.”
