When it rains, it pours.
With an injury toll mounting and a weekend absence thrown in, that phrase could have easily become the theme of the week for Metea Valley.
Untested players like junior forward CJ Jordan, however, were ready to step up and help stem the tide for the Mustangs.
“The kids could fold or make excuses,” Metea coach Isaiah Davis said Saturday of his team’s stretch of five games in 10 days. “We went out there, they’re competing, they’re listening, and right now, they’re getting the most out of what we’ve got.
“We’ve taken some close losses against some very good teams. What I think the kids are seeing is we’re a good team as well.”
The 6-foot-2 Jordan made good in his third straight start Saturday afternoon — the first starts of his varsity career — during a 60-55 loss to Stevenson in the Martin Luther King Showcase at Wheaton Warrenville South.
The Mustangs (10-8) were without four of their top seven players. Senior center Jake Nosek and senior forwards Connor Lavery and Dominic Smith missed due to injury, while senior guard Anthony Hildreth was excused to play in a national soccer tournament.
And that’s where Jordan came in.
“My teammates are such great guys,” he said. “They have been able to get me more comfortable as I play and they help me get along just fine.”
Metea led by nine points in the first half, trailed by 11 in the third quarter and rallied in the fourth.
A 3-pointer from junior guard Koi Young, another first-time starter, and Jordan’s layup on a baseline spin move cut the deficit to 51-48.
It was still a one-possession game with 12.5 seconds remaining after junior guard Tre Watkins made his third 3-pointer, giving him a game-high 22 points and putting the deficit at 58-55.
Stevenson (12-5), though, added a pair of free throws to hold on.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team right now,” Davis said.
Senior guard Tyler Miller scored 12 points for Metea. Young, filling in at forward, added nine points and five rebounds. Jordan, playing the post, finished with four points and six rebounds.
“I thought we’d definitely be in that game,” Jordan said. “It was just a lot of hard work. I think we’ve got a lot of fight in us. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out the way we hoped to, but I know if we keep working hard, we can start winning games more and more.
“I’m beginning to feel very comfortable. Those first starts I was just so nervous. I’m just glad to get an opportunity.”
Earlier in the week, Jordan tallied five rebounds in a 58-54 loss at Oswego East.
“He’s like our little 6-1, 6-2 center,” Watkins said of Jordan, facing a Stevenson front line that featured 6-6 and 6-8 players. “He might be shorter than the average center, but he just goes in there and plays hard, goes all out for rebounds, dives on the floor.
“And Koi just comes off the bench ready to shoot any time he’s open or driving the lane, doing anything he can.”
Metea bounced back in its second game of the day, winning 70-58 over Willowbrook (7-13), behind 18 points from Miller and 17 from Watkins. Sophomore guard Manny Miller stepped up and scored 15 points, while senior point guard Khalil Jones had 14.
“We have some guys out, but we’re playing hard and with toughness and grit,” Watkins said. “We can win these games.”
Smith, Lavery and Hildreth all should return this week. Nosek could be back in about three weeks, according to Davis.
“Guys are getting better and we’re going to get healthy,” Davis said. “We’re going through the guards right now, letting them make plays.”
Strong 3-point shooting has helped.
“Coach just says, ‘Keep going, keep punching and keep fighting,’” Watkins said. “And that’s what we do.”
