It was a big weekend for senior guard Tre Watkins, who reached a milestone Friday night, moving past 1,000 points for his career at Metea Valley.
Even better, however, were some smaller numbers that went his way Saturday when the Mustangs hosted Oswego East, where his dad Terrell is a sophomore coach and varsity assistant.
“I’ve just gotta play, calm and cool,” Tre said of facing his father. “It’s fun. There’s a little back and forth, talking to him and talking to the other players. I try to keep it cool.
“It’s just good and competitive. It was fun getting the win.”
Watkins, an Illinois Springfield recruit, scored a team-high 15 points for Metea in the 52-50 nonconference victory, his two free throws with 18.3 seconds left providing the winning margin.
A three-year varsity player, Watkins will finish with a 2-1 edge over his dad unless the two teams meet later in the postseason.
“Last year we beat them, his sophomore year they beat us,” Terrell Watkins said, “So if they’re here, I guess they win. It’s always fun.”
Then, with a wink, he added, “Ask him about those missed free throws.”
Tre Watkins finished 3-for-7 at the line, but Metea (9-7) went 14-for-20.
Oswego East (12-5) ended up going 3-for-10.
“Tre grew up hanging around our program, hanging with me since he was a baby,” Terrell said. “He knows our players pretty well. They grew up together.”
Dad thought Tre might been trying to do too much.
“Yes, relax,” Terrell said. “I’m happy they won, not happy they won.”
Assistant coach Brian Johnson, filling in a second straight game for Metea coach Isaiah Davis due to a family funeral, didn’t think Tre Watkins was pressing with his father on the opposing bench.
Not after Watkins scored 27 points in Friday’s 53-51 win over DeKalb.
“Tre has had the weight of the offense on his shoulders all season long,” Johnson said. “He’s used to it. Other guys stepped up (Saturday) and helped him.”
Senior guard Manny Miller added 14 points for Metea, including four 3-pointers.
“Manny had his best offensive game of the year,” Johnson said.
Senior guard Mason Lockett, the DePaul commit, scored a game-high 17 points for Oswego East despite a scoreless first half with foul trouble. Junior wings Jacsen Tucker and Dshaun Bolden added 13 and 10 points, respectively
Tre Watkins pointed to a big defensive play late in the game for the Mustangs — a blocked shot by senior guard/forward CJ Jordan.
The Wolves had just tied the game 46-46 and Lockett made a steal with under 90 seconds remaining.
“That was a great block,” Watkins said. “Mason had a clear drive through the lane and CJ came out of nowhere and just pinged the ball against the backboard.
“It was a great play, great momentum pusher and probably the play that got us the win.”
A third straight win for Metea, as a matter of fact. It’s the first time all year they Mustangs had more than two in a row when it came to wins or losses.
“We started the season out very slow,” said Watkins, who is averaging 20 points. “Since 2026, we’re 3-0. A new year, a new us. It’s good.
“Everyone’s playing together as a team. We weren’t before, kind of playing iso ball. With a new year, we’re playing together, moving the ball around and playing good team defense.”
It was the second straight loss for the Wolves, who dropped a 59-52 decision in overtime on Friday at Oswego.
“Everything that could go bad, went bad,” Terrell Watkins said.
Tre Watkins, though, believes the Wolves will be just fine.
“They’ve had some great years, winning regionals, sectionals,” he said. “I played with Mason (Lockett) in AAU and, basically, grew up with all of them. It’s fun playing great competition.”
