Boys basketball: February 2008 Archives

Statistics usually help explain what happened in a basketball game. Sometimes, though, they simply make you scratch your head.

Look at the contributions of Waubonsie Valley starters Jelani Johnson and Kyle Obendorf in the Warriors' 61-40 win over York in their regional title game Friday night. Warrior fans know they've played key roles in the team's 22-win season with Obendorf averaging nearly 7 rebounds and Johnson averaging 13.2 points and 7 rebounds.

As I said to coach Steve Weemer afterward, "If I had told you Obendorf would have one rebound before fouling out and Johnson would score just two points but you were going to win by 21 points you would have thought I was crazy."

"You're right," he said.

But that's what happened. Go figure.

"Kyle was a little down but I told him to stay positive," said Weemer. "He's had a great season. He had a tough night but we stayed alive."

And Josh Daniels, who had a career-high 28 points, said it wouldn't be wise to overlook Johnson's contributions.

The junior did have eight rebounds.

"And Jelani did a good job of locking down No. 12 (York's 3-point specialist Roger Coffin)," said Daniels. "We built off his effort on defense and played hard."

We've had multiple overtimes, buzzer beaters, a near historic upset of a No. 1 seed, and other compelling contests involving Beacon News coverage area teams.

It's been amazing - and I expect nothing less of tomorrow's regional title games....

It was an emotional Don Davidson who stepped up the ladder and made the final cuts on the net Friday after his Aurora Christian Eagles claimed a second straight regional title, 58-52 over Genoa-Kingston.

Ironically, it’s the same score AC won by Dec. 29th when beating the Cogs in the third-place game at the Plano Christmas Classic.

It’s the 10th regional crown the school has won in the 31-year tenure of Davidson’s program. It’s the first they’ve won at home and the first Davidson has won since the death of his wife, Stephanie, who passed away last fall.

“It’s been a real emotional year for me,” said Davidson, whose career record now stands at 549-303. “My wife’s funeral was Nov. 3rd and practice began on Nov. 5th. I’m really proud of these kids.”

The team has worn red wristbands citing her favorite Bible verse from Ephesians all season.

“It was one year ago tonight, in fact, when she had surgery on her lung and we got the word that the cancer had spread,” said Davidson. “That was devastating news. The Lord has given me strength and sustained me.”

And his strength has helped his players.

“He’s a man of God and a warrior,” said senior guard Joe Redmond. “He knows it sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. She was with him for a long time. She was his only girl friend. For him to stick with us after what he went through meant a lot to us.”

Amen.

I was supposed to go out to see Mooseheart take on Chicago (Waldorf) in the Class 1A boys basketball regional semifinals at Westminster Christian. The Ramblers, as a No. 3 seed were expected to roll No. 14 seed Waldorf.

The Beacon News reported today that Corbin Spearman and Marquis Stewart were suspended for violating the school's athletic code.

Spearman and Stewart could potentially return for the Willowbrook Regional title game, should West advance that far. We're interested in hearing your thoughts as to how this may shake up that regional.

I know, I know - the 4A boys hoops playoffs don't start until Feb. 25. A lot can happen in 2 weeks...injury, suspension, ineligibility...but I can't help it. Here are my East Aurora Sectional predictions...

I love being right.

Last Saturday I said that Batavia has that "little something extra" that really good teams need to have in order to advance in the postseason...and it was on display again tonight in a 74-68 victory over Geneva.

Trailing by seven early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs were led by two unheralded players down the stretch: Jordan Smith and reserve Stewart Charles.

The two combined to score 14 points in the fourth quarter(!), and Smith netted 21 for the entire game. They two "big men" hit the boards, the floor, and the Vikings hard down the stretch to push them to a victory.

Former East High basketball standout Shaun Collins returns to the area Thursday night when he and his Oakton Community College teammates play Waubonsee in a Skyway Conference game at 7:15 p.m. in Sugar Grove. Collins, a 6-foot-2 freshman guard, has recently moved into the starting lineup for the Raiders. He scored 22 points Jan. 15th when the Raiders topped the Chiefs 82-75 at home. Oakton, the defending Skyway champs, are currently 5-2 in the league and 10-10 overall.

Ok, ok - the live blogging thing didn't happen last night (as you can tell) at the Batavia Night of Hoops. We ran into some technical difficulties, which should have been anticipated because well, we've never done it before. So, read more for some observations from a great night of basketball...

To whet the appetite a little bit for today's contests, here's a piece of history from the early 90's, featuring Corey Williams, one of the poeople who helped come up with the idea for tonight's event....

Here's what we've got so far ...