High school boys basketball head coaches at East Aurora and at West Aurora (see page 11 photos) each developed a keen sense of his team’s character and destiny during the season. That sense for each coach constituted a part of a regional championship this season and a biggest school Class 4A sectional tournament semifinal meeting between the two teams Wednesday this week at Lockport High School.
The past has become a part of the present:
• East Aurora head coach Rick Robinson, from the beginning of the year, assessed the team could achieve success, however, last week he found a letter from Ernie Kivisto, his high school coach at East Aurora in the 1970s, which helped create renewed confidence.
• West Aurora head coach Brian Johnson, from the beginning of the year saw his team, with only one returning starter from last year, Kelvin Balfour, struggle to win games, and it did not reach 10 victories until the first game of the regional tournament, a stunning upset victory over higher-seeded Waubonsie Valley, 47-41, which finished the year with a 27-5 record.
West Aurora progress has been guided in part, by a sense of previous successful West Aurora teams (44 regional tournament championships). “The boys have played within themselves and as a team,” Johnson said early this week. “They stuck with the game plan for each contest and have reaped the benefits.” The Blackhawks took an overall record of 11-19 into the sectional tournament, including a 56-51 victory over Plainfield Central in the regional championship game.
East Aurora won its first regional tournament championship since 2011, glory days led by Ryan Boatright, who later was a starting guard on national tournament champion University of Connecticut.
“My wife wanted me to clean out an area for our grandson’s visit this Summer,” Robinson said, “and I found this letter from coach Kivisto (dated March 5, 1979) one year after we lost a close game to Benet (Academy) in the tournament. (Benet finished in third place in the State in 1979.) Seeing that letter gave me goose bumps and gave me confidence this team could achieve success. We had a really good team back in 1978. I felt good this whole week (during the regional tournament).
“I am thrilled with what we have achieved (a 79-72 victory in the Oswego East Regional tournament championship game against Bolingbrook and a berth in the sectional tournament).”
The Tomcats took a record of 23-10 into the game with West Aurora Wednesday and a second place finish in the 10-team Upstate Eight Conference, one game behind champion Glenbard South.
Congratulations and kudos poured in to West Aurora for its regional tournament championship from former successful players in the 1970s and later. West Aurora had lost many close games during the season. “Senior leadership has been a key,” Johnson said. “It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons. We have hit bumps along the road. What has been constant is our effort and senior leadership.”
East and West have met four times previously in sectional tournament games, 1980, 1990, 1991, and 2000.