The geographic motivation already existed for Wheaton Academy.

The IHSA simply added fuel to the Warriors’ fire to win.

Tuesday’s nonconference game between Wheaton Academy and host West Chicago featured the inherent draw of city bragging rights.

But when the IHSA recently announced the private school multiplier would be in place for the playoffs, the game turned into a tussle for seeding at the Class AA East Aurora sectional.

Wheaton Academy grabbed an edge on both fronts with a 61-47 boys basketball victory over its West Chicago rivals.

“Before it was just West Chicago versus West Chicago,” said Warriors coach Andy Euler. “But this became a huge game in terms of seeding.”

With Wheaton Academy (7-8) multiplied and bumped up to Class AA, the Warriors find themselves in an East Aurora sectional field with area powers West Aurora, Batavia, York and Glenbard East.

The Warriors will take any edge they can get going into the upcoming seeding meeting. Tuesday’s win was a big step, one they hope to build upon against future sectional opponents St. Francis and Montini.

“We came in with a serious mentality,” said Warriors senior forward Jeremy Parker, who scored a game-high 26 points. “We knew this game was important to us. We were hustling really hard, but then we also had a lot of turnovers.”

Ah yes — the turnovers.

There were 57 total in Tuesday’s game, 29 committed by Wheaton Academy. West Chicago (2-13) committed 11 of its 28 in the first quarter as it fell into a 17-5 hole.

The margin grew to 25-9 early in the second quarter on a John Tillery 3-pointer. Wheaton Academy went to the half with a 34-20 advantage.

West Chicago’s offense came to life in the third quarter as the Wildcats narrowed the gap. Larry Pope scored 7 of his 11 points, including a pair of baskets during a 6-0 run.

Dennis Rocha, who led the Wildcats with 13 points, hit a pair of free throws to pull West Chicago within 39-36 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.

Wheaton Academy, however, seized control by scoring the quarter’s final 8 points. Parker and Joel Malmquist each hit 3-pointers in the decisive spurt.

Axel Cerny scored 12 points for the Warriors. Josh Wonsowski tallied 10 points off the bench for West Chicago.

“I think that was our season in a nutshell,” said Wildcats coach Kevin Gimre. “One or two quarters are good, but the other two leave you scratching your head. The kids kept battling, we just couldn’t come all the way back.”