With the calendar now reading close to the middle of February, momentum is all the rage as the regular season winds to its conclusion.
For Metea Valley, its visit to Oswego East on Tuesday was about two numbers: four and 90.
Gunning for its fourth straight victory while not relaxing after last Thursday’s first-ever victory over West Aurora for the program, Metea Valley never took its foot off the gas pedal in the midst of leading wire-to-wire en route to posting a 68-47 victory.
Behind getting 33 combined points from their two leading scorers, Mark Konkle and Ron Edwards, the Mustangs’ lead ballooned to as many as 25 points late in the fourth.
After scoring 18 points in the 16-point victory over the Blackhawks five days ago, Konkle responded by matching that output once again by pouring in a game-high 18 points to go along with pulling down eight rebounds.
“I mean, I think that’s something we’ve been working on all year as I’ve kind of grown and gotten more accumulated into the offense,” Konkle said of getting him into a comfort level inside. “With being (here) last year, as well, I think that helped out a lot. But, you know, I think it’s just my responsibility that when I get the ball, I got to make a good decision, whether that be a shot or whether that be if they draw more guys in, then that would be a shot for my teammates. But I think that it’s another good key for us because we are so quick and fast.”
Edwards came two points shy of repeating his 17-point effort against West Aurora as 10 of his 15 points came in the first half.
Meanwhile, Konkle tallied 11 of his 18 during a first half that saw him, Edwards and Bryson Oliver combine for 29 of the 37 points Metea Valley (12-12) scored in the game’s opening 16 minutes.
The 6-foot-6 Konkle scored the final four points of the half, including a rebound and putback as time expired to give the Mustangs their biggest lead at the time at 37-21 going into halftime.
With 364 days passing since the Wolves put up 90 points against the Mustangs in a five-point road win last February, Bob Vozza’s charges made a distinct point of making their collective point defensively.
The diminutive Oliver proved to be a thorn in the side of Wolves’ guards Trevor Ross and Anthony Jett, among others, as the Mustangs were able to constantly pressure the Wolves into either turning the ball over or take tough shots after extended possessions.
“(Tuesday) night, we just got up (on Oswego East), defending players, things like that. Getting steals for us is big. Getting out in transition—that’s how our team likes to play,” said Oliver, who added all eight of his points in the first half. “Getting out in transition, making plays, things like that. That’s how we (get rolling).”
Back at the .500 mark after the four straight victories heading into Friday’s Upstate Eight Valley game with South Elgin at home, Metea Valley knows now is the time to get its game in gear.
“Absolutely. Talked about it prior to the game. That West Aurora game is over. It’s in the past. You got to keep moving forward,” Metea Valley coach Bob Vozza said. “Keep getting better and going on an upswing going up into late conference and regionals.”
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