Missing one rivalry game was more than enough, so junior guard Orlando Edwards wouldn’t deny that it was, hands down, good to be back on the court for West Aurora.

The 6-foot-3 Edwards missed nearly seven weeks with a broken bone in his dominant left hand.

“It happened at practice, doing a drill and I fell and landed on it,” Edwards said after Thursday night’s game at East Aurora. “Tonight felt great, playing with my guys again and sharing the court with all my family here.

“Playing our rivals, that team from the other side of the river, is always a great game.”

Edwards returned to the starting lineup Thursday and scored 15 points, matching junior point guard Travis Brown to share game-high scoring honors for the visiting Blackhawks in a 59-48 Upstate Eight West win at Ernie Kivisto Gymnasium.

Senior forward Lesroy Tittle, also returning to action from a high ankle sprain, came off the bench to score eight points for the Blackhawks (16-11, 9-1), who improved to 143-88 in a series that dates to 1913.

West Aurora’s Orlando Edwards (2) puts up a 3-pointer against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game at Ernie Kivisto Gymnasium in Aurora on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)

Junior guard Jaden Matthews-Thomas and junior forward Richard Bell Jr. added seven points apiece.

“It probably set him back a lot because he was playing heavy minutes early in the season,” West Aurora coach Mike Fowler said of Edwards. “The other night I put him in against Larkin and he played pretty well. Just with our matchups (Thursday), I thought it best that he stays in the lineup.

“We need someone outside of Travis to take care of the basketball at times. Hopefully, he can take on that role for our last little homestretch.”

West Aurora controls its own destiny in seeking to defend its Upstate Eight West title. The Blackhawks host Elgin on Wednesday and play Friday at South Elgin (9-17, 8-1), which trails by a half game in conference.

West Aurora’s Orlando Edwards (2) passes the ball up the court against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game at Ernie Kivisto Gymnasium in Aurora on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)

“That could be one game for the title with South Elgin,” Fowler said. “I’m confident we’ll be OK, but if we play like we did in the last quarter and a half (Thursday), South Elgin will be right there with us, too.

“We can’t play basketball like that.”

He was upset with the Blackhawks’ 22 turnovers against East Aurora, which had 19 turnovers. West Aurora seemed to be in complete control, leading 47-32 entering the fourth quarter.

Sophomore guard Jamir Malone then sparked a comeback, scoring 10 of his 11 points in a 14-2 spurt to lift the Tomcats within 52-46 with 3:00 remaining.

West Aurora’s Orlando Edwards (2) works against East Aurora’s Ryan Robinson during an Upstate Eight West game at Ernie Kivisto Gymnasium in Aurora on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)

“We took some ill-advised shots and let them go loose down the floor in transition,” Fowler said. “We know they play well in transition, and we’ve got guys jogging and just giving up layups.

“Somehow, we figured it out and got it done”

Baskets from Brown, Tittle and Bell, however, kept East Aurora at bay.

Junior forwards Casston Cross and Jason Moore each finished with 12 points for the Tomcats.

“We’ve got to be better with the turnovers,” Fowler said. “We had way too many down the stretch. We have to be strong with the ball.”

Edwards, meanwhile, has shown a penchant for stepping up in the rivalry game.

West Aurora’s Orlando Edwards (2) chases down a loose ball against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game at Ernie Kivisto Gymnasium in Aurora on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)

Last season, with three seniors for West Aurora sidelined by injury, Edwards teamed up with Brown in a tight game with the Tomcats.

Edwards scored two key baskets late in a 58-56 decision, including the layup that gave the Blackhawks the lead for good on a feed off a steal from Brown.

“Orlando was up and down, getting in with us here and there last year,” Fowler said. “He practiced with us and played in some games.”

Thanks to several more injuries this season, it has been a struggle for the Blackhawks to settle on regular rotations.

“Lesroy had been giving us some minutes before the injury,” Fowler said. “He’s just aggressive, physical and plays hard and can help us defending.

“Orlando is getting back into it. We’re trying to give him opportunities and get him back in the fold of playing.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/orlando-edwards-west-aurora-east-aurora/