Trevian Bell, Teyvion Kirk propel Joliet West boys basketball team past Joliet Central

JOLIET – When Trevian Bell and Teyvion Kirk get off to strong starts, the Joliet West boys basketball team is difficult to beat.

That was the case Friday night in the West fieldhouse as the Tigers jumped to a 23-7 lead en route to a 72-63 victory over Joliet Central in the SouthWest Suburban Blue and regular-season finale,

Up next is Class 4A regional competition. The Tigers (17-9, 8-6), the No 3 seed in the Lockport Sectional, will be at the Neuqua Valley Regional while the Steelmen (14-12, 8-6) will compete in the Lincoln-Way Central Regional.

"Playing here against these guys, with them playing like they have been lately, you can't let a first quarter like this happen," Central coach Jeff Corcoran said. "You can't give them what we gave them on the glass, either. They converted their [second and third] chances. We got them, too, but didn't convert."

Bell hit his first five shots over the first quarter and a half. Four were from 15 feet or farther, and two were 3-pointers. Kirk was disruptive defensively and scored nine points over that same span, including a dunk that electrified the crowd.

"We've been trying to come out hard, go up early," Kirk said. "Then when they went on their runs, we knew we couldn't get complacent."

"When you get a cushion like that and have kids, they tend to feel more relaxed," West coach Nick DiForti said. "It always helps to get a lead right off the bat. It propels us for the rest of the game."

After West opened its 23-7 lead, Malik Fuller fueled a Steelmen rally. He scored five points, crashed the boards with abandon and had an assist during a 10-0 run that sliced the difference to 23-17.

Bell and Kirk responded, however, as Bell hit from 15 feet and on a long 3-pointer around a Kirk dunk after a Central turnover. Just like that, the Tigers were back on top, 30-18, with 3:32 left before halftime.

"Trevian went out and hit some shots early," DiForti said. "He has really played well lately. He has matured as a player. He has added some post moves."

What about shooting in the fieldhouse, where West connected on 10 of 12 in the first quarter and finished at 48.1 percent on 26 of 54?

"It's definitely different in the fieldhouse," Bell said. "But before the game, I couldn't miss, and it transferred over to the game. I'm glad I was able to go out and do what I did."

West led, 36-25, at halftime, and behind strong offensive rebounding went up 46-29 and then 51-31 in the third quarter. Central got it down to an eight-point difference twice in the fourth quarter but each time missed inside shots that could have trimmed it further.

Bell finished with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting and 8 of 9 free throws, and he grabbed 10 rebounds. Central outrebounded West, 16-10, in the first half, but the Tigers finished with a 36-29 edge.

"It just kind of worked out that way that we got all those offensive rebounds in the second half," Bell said. "We got good effort from everybody down low. Usually, rebounds decide games."

"We made it a point at halftime to get more people to the offensive boards," DiForti said. "Our guards were leaking back, and Central wasn't pushing the tempo that much, not as much as our guards thought they would. When our guards quit leaking back, they helped our rebounding."

Prime examples were Eddie Creal and Mike Smith, who came off the bench in the second half and combined for six offensive boards.

Fuller was his usual presence inside for Central. He put up 20 points, 13 in the second half, and snagged 13 rebounds, nine after the break.

"I like battling with Fuller," Bell said. "He is a load. It gets me tougher to play against him."

Kirk chipped in 16 points for the Tigers. Jason Bingham had seven and Elijah Ward, Tabyous Casterberry and Creal contributed six. Kirk and Casterberry each grabbed six rebounds.

"We pretty much held Bell and Kirk in check the first time [a 58-51 West victory Jan. 29], and other guys beat us," Corcoran said. "This time, they got what they wanted out of their main guys."

Jose Grubbs chipped in 16 points for Central. Treveon Ward added 10, Marcellus Hornsby nine and Jaylen Walker six on two 3-pointers late in the third quarter that got the Steelmen back within 54-44.

"Fuller and Grubbs played well, and Jaylen Walker gave us a nice jolt off the bench," Corcoran said. "Marcy [Hornsby] got in a good flow, too. It's been since Christmas since we had that. He has been battling a hand injury."