Boys Basketball: Peoria Central gets by Oswego East for title

Updated: December 30, 2011 10:10PM

Oswego East couldn’t end Peoria Central’s run in the East Aurora Holiday Tournament, but the Wolves did make the Lions work for their third straight title.

Jerrell White led a fourth-quarter charge as Peoria Central beat Oswego East 73-58 in Friday’s championship game.

“We battled all the way through,” Wolves coach Jason Buckley said. “We’re proud of the way we played throughout the tournament.”

White scored 12 of his 20 points and grabbed all three of his steals in the fourth quarter, in which the Lions (10-1) outscored the Wolves 23-8.

“I just wanted to be a leader and carry my team and get that championship back,” said the senior guard. “Coaches got on me in the locker room and told me to come out and be a leader. When I was sitting after my second foul (in the second quarter) that really motivated me.”

Trailing 50-45 late in the third, the Lions went on a decisive 17-3 run to lead for good 62-53. White had seven points during the run, including a three-pointer that started it.

Tournament MVP Trey Kellum also added 20 points for the Lions while Shamar Hill chipped in 10.

Kenny Battle Jr. led three players in double-figures for the Wolves (7-4) with 17 points. Nick Marema added 15 points, including three three-pointers which kept his team in the game on several occasions. CJ Vaughan, who entered the game with a tournament leading 20 points-per-game, finished with 12.

“I told the guys if we would have played this game two weeks ago, we would have lost by 25,” Buckley said.

There were eight lead changes in the first half, which ended in a 31-31 deadlock.

“(White) is a good player, he is our point guard and we need him to run our team,” Lions coach Dan Ruffin said. “This is good for our program and it gives us a little exposure early in the season.

“Our defense was the difference tonight.”

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