Too close for comfort. And welcome to playoff basketball.
Aurora Christian’s Jacob Baumann didn’t need a ton of varsity experience Friday night to understand the significance with his team struggling mightily on offense during the first half.
But, as they say, better late than never.
“He’s an off guard with a slender build and a shot that looks a little different — but it works,” coach Dan Beebe said of Baumann. “And he’s been one of our top defenders all year.”
Baumann, a 5-foot-11 guard, is of four sophomores in the starting lineup alongside senior forward Cameron Morel. And he had both aspects of his game going in the second half.
Sparking the host Eagles’ comeback from a 30-15 deficit, Baumann engineered an 8-0 run in the third quarter of an eventual 51-50 overtime victory against Earlville in the Class 1A Aurora Christian Regional championship game.
“He got us back in the game,” Beebe said. “And Jalen Carter hit a couple 3-pointers in overtime.”
Carter finished with 17 points Friday, while Morel and Baumann added 11 apiece for Aurora Christian (22-8), which plays at 7 p.m. Tuesday against Rochelle Zell (21-5) in a Harvest Christian Sectional semifinal.
“We were pretty stressed in the first half and trailed 23-12,” Baumann said. “We weren’t locked in. We were moving the ball but taking quick shots. We did a lot better in the second half.”
Beebe said his team shot 25% in the first half but found another way.
“I’ve been in a lot of games in my 32 years,” Beebe said. “I won’t forget this one.
“We missed 10-12 layups, but if you make a long run in the state playoffs, you figure you may have to find a way to win a game when you’re not playing your best. We created 27 turnovers, and that made the difference.”
Baumann and sophomore point guard Marshawn Cocroft each had three of the Eagles’ 13 steals.
Carter and senior reserve Wil McCracken also had two steals apiece. Sophomore center Asa Johnson and senior reserve forward Rudy Griffing each had one.
Baumann came off the bench last season and gained valuable playoff experience like most of his young teammates, taking part in the Eagles’ run to a Class 2A sectional final.
“I’ve liked having to step up this season into a starting role,” Baumann said. “I think I’m a lot like the senior who started in that spot last season. I fit in well and have felt comfortable.
“The pressure keeps building in the playoffs, but I think even more so on the seniors because they know it could be their last game. As sophomores, we have several years, but it’s still pretty big the farther along you go. It’s also a lot of fun.”
What’s in a name
Kaneland (25-5) advanced and hosts a Class 3A sectional. The Knights play at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a semifinal against Belvidere North (22-11), which beat the Knights’ Interstate Eight Conference rival Sycamore 69-54 for the first regional title in the program’s 17-year history.
The Thunder were led by three players named Brown, who are not related according to a report in the Rockford Register Star. Adam Brown a 6-2 senior forward, scored 33 points in the regional final, while 5-11 senior guard Braeden Brown added 28 points. Joseph Brown, a 5-9 senior point guard, drew three charging fouls.
A block party
Waubonsie Valley had five players combine for nine blocked shots in a 48-34 win over Plainfield North in the Class 4A Metea Valley Regional championship game. Reserve Cade Valek had three, while starting forwards Moses Wilson and Matthew Sessom had two each.
Junior point guard Tyreek Coleman was impressed with that defensive performance.
“It’s good we’ve got people that can swat and take away those easy shots for teams,” he said.
