Sports
Boys Basketball: Metea Earns Some Payback Over Neuqua
Metea Valley 72, Neuqua Valley 63. Mustangs avenge December loss, roll into first postseason with momentum.
The Hot Read: After falling behind by three points early in the third quarter Friday, Metea Valley responded with an 18-1 run that opened up a 64-50 lead on Neuqua. Ryan Solomon scored six points to help spark that run. Making that run all the more remarkable is that the Wildcats opened the game up 9-0 and held a 27-17 lead in the second quarter, only to see it evaporate. Neuqua did cut the lead to 67-63 with 31 seconds left on an Alex Karkazis three-point play, but the Wildcats never scored again.
Patch’s MVP: Solomon may have been third on the team with 15 points, but the junior point guard, standing only 6-feet, grabbed 10 rebounds and was crucial in running the show for the Mustangs.
Key stats: The key all night for Metea was free-throw shooting. The Mustangs drilled their first 14 attempts as a team and their first 22 of 23. They wound up 30 of 37 after some late misses. The other big key was rebounding. Despite having a size disadvantage, the scrappy Mustangs wound up with a 38-22 edge on the boards. Neuqua stuck around thanks to three-point shooting. The Wildcats drilled 10 treys all told.
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Metea Valley’s leaders: Raysean Parker (20 points), Kenny Obendorf (17 points, six rebounds, three steals), Solomon (15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists).
Neuqua Valley’s leaders: Sam Johnson (20 points), Karkazis (13 points, five rebounds), Jim Stocki (11 points).
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Quotable: “We were on the verge (of getting blown out) twice, down 9-0 and down 10 in the second, and it was just a matter of us digging in and getting some stops,” Metea coach Bob Vozza said. “I think getting into the open floor, we were starting to make some good decisions and get some easy ones to get our confidence back.”
Team records: Metea Valley (15-12 overall, 5-7 Upstate Eight Valley), Neuqua Valley (22-6 overall, 8-4 Upstate Eight Valley).
What’s next: Metea Valley is the No. 13 seed in the Class 4A East Aurora Sectional and will play its first postseason game Monday in the Class 4A Bolingbrook Regional quarterfinals against the host Raiders at 8:10 p.m. The winner of that game advances to face Neuqua Valley Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the regional semifinals. The Wildcats are the No. 5 seed in the sectional.
