At West Aurora, the game runs through junior point guard Travis Brown.

Safe to say with a player of his caliber.

The 6-foot Brown was named the Upstate Eight West’s player of the year last season as a sophomore. He can create and fill up the scoring column on his own or facilitate for teammates.

And when it comes to defense, Brown’s hands are simply pickpocket quick. All of which made the Blackhawks’ 0-6 start this season disappointing for their team leader.

“My head right now is to be pushing my team to keep doing better, to keep our streak up, keep going, keep winning,” Brown said. “Right now, we got that monkey off our back.

“After those first six? I told my team we’re better than that and we need to keep working, keep pushing each other.”

West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) goes up for a layup against Streamwood during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

They pushed back Tuesday night as the host Blackhawks utilized a 1-2-2 full-court press to overwhelm Streamwood 82-20 in the Upstate Eight West, extending a modest winning streak to three games.

Hey, it’s a start.

Brown was on top of his game for West Aurora (3-6, 3-1), lofting an alley-oop pass from beyond the 3-point line on his team’s first possession to his cousin, 6-3 sophomore forward Amon Greene, who laid it in off the glass for the first basket.

“I just want to do what the coach needs me to do,” Greene said. “I’m more of a team player. If I need to score I’ll do it, but I can play defense.

West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) drives to the basket on a fast break against Streamwood during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

“Travis and I work out together and compete against each other. Everybody knows he’s a great point guard and he’s a great teammate to have in practice.”

It meant forcing a bunch of turnovers early against Streamwood (1-8, 0-4).

Brown posted up at the free-throw line, took a pass, spun and sank a 15-footer. From the same spot on the next trip, Brown fed 6-2 junior guard Jaden Matthews-Thomas for an easy basket.

The Sabres had 20 turnovers in the first half and trailed 50-11 before a running clock started with the fourth quarter.

West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) find an open teammate for an assist against Streamwood during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

“We’ve got some athleticism, some guys who can fly around and get deflections like Amon and Jaden and Travis,” West Aurora coach Michael Fowler said.

“We used that press last year. It just depends sometimes who you’re playing and sometimes who the matchups are. It can create some easy opportunities for us when we get out in transition.”

West Aurora piled up 21 steals through three quarters.

Greene finished with a game-high 15 points, while Matthews-Thomas added 12, followed by Brown with 11 and 6-4 senior post Drew Lundberg with 10.

All 13 Blackhawks who played also scored.

“We have to play who’s in front of us,” Fowler said. “As long as they’re doing the things we’re asking them to do and playing the right way, that’s all we can ask.

“We still missed too many opportunities in transition, something that’s plagued us this year. Hopefully, we keep working and figure it out.”

West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) puts pressure on Streamwood’s Jermaryle Parker (10) during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

Brown has been figuring it out as well after hurting his wrist early in an 81-53 loss at Waukegan then missing a 60-58 loss to Bartlett in the conference opener..

“We tried to be cautious with him because we need him on the floor,” Fowler said of Brown. “He’s back but still struggling a little bit with it. But it’s getting better..

“It was a rough start. We had games we thought we could win. We didn’t shoot too well in a few of them. This is where we’re at. Once you get that first win, you try to keep your energy level up and put a streak together. The boys are feeling good.”

Small steps, according to Brown, can add up.

“We’ve got to prove to people that we’re not the team we started with,” he said. “We know who we are. We’ll do what we’re gonna do.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/17/travis-brown-west-aurora-streamwood-ihsa-boys-basketball/