Shooting has always been the trademark of his game, but this season, junior guard Jacob Baumann has expanded his role out of necessity for Aurora Christian.
Mission accomplished, according to coach Dan Beebe.
Losing an all-state point guard via transfer left the Eagles with a big hole in the lineup for Beebe. And the 6-foot Baumann has been filling that bill, giving it his best.
“He’s really taken it on and taken ownership of it, right from the get-go,” Beebe said. “All spring and summer, Jacob has been doing a bunch of drills because he’s going from a shooting guard to the point guard.
“His responsibilities have changed a lot.”
Baumann stayed the course Monday night, draining three straight 3-pointers in the first quarter as fifth-seeded host Aurora Christian bolted to a 23-8 lead after one quarter and never looked back in a 71-37 win over 12th-seeded Leland in a Class 1A Indian Creek Regional quarterfinal.
Overall, Baumann made 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range and finished with 15 points to go with his five rebounds, three assists and two steals in little more than a half of play for the Eagles (15-12), who are hoping to make the program’s third extended playoff run since 2020.
“The past few games I haven’t been shooting great,” Baumann said. “I’ve been trying to come in and get some extra practice, just get in the gym more and get some extra reps.
“Obviously, it was working now.”
Indeed it was.
The win advanced Aurora Christian to a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday semifinal in Shabbona, meeting fourth-seeded host Indian Creek (20-11), a 66-39 winner Monday over 13th-seeded Mooseheart.
Guard Preston Morel, one of three sophomore starters for Beebe, led Aurora Christian’s offense with 24 points. Senior guard Gunnar Nelson paced short-handed Leland (11-18) with 16 points.
Beebe started four sophomores last season in his team’s run to a fourth-place finish in Class 1A but lost a second sophomore starter to transfer.
It left Baumann and 6-4 junior forward Asa Johnson, a fellow starter, to fill bigger roles.
“The only two starters back from the state team, you’re leaning on Jacob and Asa quite a bit,” Beebe said. “We have very little experience outside of those two on the rest of the team.
“We’ve leaned on them pretty good. They’ve been great leaders for us in a really good way and in every facet of the game.”
Baumann entered Monday’s game averaging 12 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals.
“I would say I’m a two or shooting guard,” Baumann said. “I can play a one (point guard). It’s not my favorite, but I can do it. I didn’t mind trying it. It’s definitely helped my overall game, for sure.
“My ballhandling, I think, I’ve improved a lot. I’m able to dribble the ball much better. Last year, my role was to catch and shoot. Now, I dribble and can dish it anywhere they want.”
The other sophomores joining Morel in the starting lineup are guard Joe DeCort and 6-8 center Jordan Weeks, younger brother of guard Aspen Weeks who starred at Aurora Christian and then West Aurora after the Eagles’ girls program was discontinued for a season.
“Preston has done a great job,” Beebe said. “Preston and Jacob are always taking the other team’s best offensive player on the perimeter, so they have that responsibility and go down to the other side and score for us.”
During the fall, Baumann is a standout for Aurora Christian’s boys golf team that has reached the sectional the past two seasons. He hopes to pursue one of his two sports in college.
In the meantime, he’ll continue to look for his openings in basketball.
“Obviously, he can still shoot it and he got quite a few shots up (Monday),” Beebe said. “His responsibility is to run the offense now, to be the quarterback on the court.
“He’s really taken that in stride and done a great job for us.”
