West Aurora’s Jaden Matthews-Thomas has been hitting his stride in the past few games. And the reason is fairly simple, according to coach Mike Fowler.
Fowler stresses that he wants his guys to play to their strengths and accentuate them. In the case of Matthews-Thomas, that’s defensive intensity, getting to the basket and playing off two feet.
“I’m just going out here trying to showcase my skills, show what I can do and prove I can stay on the court,” he said. “(Fowler) always preaches leaning into your strengths, doing what’s working.
“I have more confidence, more energy.”
Matthews-Thomas displayed that confidence and energy on the big stage Friday night.
The junior guard scored 20 points — including a couple of highlight-reel dunks — as host West Aurora dominated crosstown rival East Aurora during an 80-52 Upstate Eight West victory.
West Aurora’s Jaden Matthews-Thomas (22) looks up at the rim on a fast break against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Travis Brown led all scorers with 22 points for West Aurora (9-8, 5-1). Jordan Weeks added 12 points off the bench. Casston Cross paced East Aurora (8-9, 4-2) with 15 points.
Fowler, who is impressed with how Matthews-Thomas has come on lately, knows that energy and production will be a big key for the Blackhawks moving forward.
“Sometimes, they have to understand their strengths,” Fowler said. “I think he’s starting to come along and play to his strengths and what he has success with. That’s points in the paint and being aggressive on both ends of the floor.
“I like where he’s going and I like where we’re going as a team.”
West Aurora’s Jaden Matthews-Thomas (22) brings the ball up the court against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
West Aurora fell behind 8-2 early in the game, but a layup from Matthews-Thomas kickstarted an 11-0 run the gave the Blackhawks a 13-8 lead and they never trailed again.
“They got off to a good start,” Fowler said of East Aurora. “Once we figured out what they were trying to do and their plan of attack, our boys figured it out and ran off from there.
“I’m proud of the way they played defensively. A lot of people in that locker room made plays.”
Nobody made more memorable plays than Matthews-Thomas, however.
West Aurora’s Jaden Matthews-Thomas (22) goes up over the defense for a layup against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
A thunderous dunk off a steal in the second quarter gave the Blackhawks their first double-digit lead at 26-15. He then scored their final eight points of the first half for a 42-26 lead at halftime.
Matthews-Thomas wasn’t done making memories, either. With 1:58 left in the third quarter, he unleashed a vicious dunk. It not only gave the Blackhawks a 62-34 lead, it took the lid off the gym.
“It’s the East-West game,” Fowler said. “You have to have some moments like that. It gets the crowd going, especially in a rivalry. If you can get those, it really gets your team ready to go.
“He gives us a lot. I’m proud of his effort.”
Nobody had a better view of that dunk than Brown. After all, he was calling for an alley-oop before Matthews-Thomas decided to take matters into his own hands.
“I was calling for the oop,” Brown said. “He went to go dunk on somebody and he did it. It was very exciting. It’s actually the first time he’s done it in a game, second time I’ve seen him do it.”
West Aurora’s Jaden Matthews-Thomas (22) passes the ball to a teammate in the corner against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
His emergence makes things easier for Brown, who is West Aurora’s leading scorer.
“It’s going to help us a lot,” Brown said. “Another person with some energy and some confidence is going to bring a lot to us. For me, it takes pressure off of me. It feels great.
“The double can’t come because we have another threat on the team.”
Matthews-Thomas is enjoying coming into his own, especially because he knows what his explosive plays bring to the team.
“I feel like it brings us energy and turns us all up,” Matthews-Thomas said. “I’m definitely trying to make a name for myself.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
