Gordie Kerkman talks a lot about former West Aurora and Illinois star Kenny Battle.
Recently the West Aurora coach has been telling his players more about the shots Battle passed up than those he made to become an outstanding player.
“One of his greatest assets was that he made the players around him better,” Kerkman said of Battle. “When he was on the floor, whether he was making passes or getting on people, he was always trying to keep players focused.
“We are definitely missing somebody like that.”
It may be West Aurora’s only flaw, but one that makes the top-ranked Blackhawks (23-2) vulnerable in the Class AA postseason, which begins Monday with regional openers.
“We have too many good one-on-one players who are looking for one-on-one plays instead of running the offense and being patient,” Kerkman said.
It could cost the Blackhawks a state title, which they would win easily if talent alone determined the champion. Kerkman has five Division I prospects, more than some coaches have in a career, including All-State candidate Dameon Mason. The others are Justin Cerasoli, Shaun Pruitt, Michael Binns and Jaeh Thomas.
The team’s weakness could be exposed early in the tournament, especially if the Blackhawks meet East Aurora in a regional final Friday.
This year’s postseason format has teams going to predetermined regional sites with geographical emphasis renewing many neighborhood rivalries and no doubt bringing some early upsets. For more than a decade the top seeds had home-court advantage in the early rounds and the pairings were made according to seedings.
West Aurora is fortunate it’s a regional host this season. In early February the Blackhawks needed overtime to defeat East Aurora in the Tomcats’ gymnasium. West Aurora won with Mason’s 41 points. East Aurora has since won five straight games behind Jordan Lozano, Tyrone Evans, Terry Jeffries and Matt Jaquez.
The regional champ advances to the East Aurora sectional.
“I’d rather play them at our place in a regional final than their place in a sectional game,” Kerkman said after the pairings were released.
West Aurora should also be better off now that Pruitt is in the lineup. The 6-foot-9-inch junior had been recovering from a broken leg he sustained in the preseason but returned in mid-February. He showed midseason form when he scored 24 points in limited action against Glenbard North eight days ago.
“I still have lots to work on, like timing and conditioning,” Pruitt said. “I’m not where the rest of these guys are at, knowing the plays.”
Nevertheless, he gives West Aurora added inside presence and complements the 6-5 Mason, who averages 21.7 points a game. Pruitt will only make a rematch between West Aurora and East Aurora more intriguing.
But East Aurora isn’t the only team that could keep 2000 state champion West Aurora from advancing to the state quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons.
Downers Grove South, Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley, behind Bobby Catchings, are capable of pulling upsets.
Like many of the state’s top teams, the Blackhawks will have their hands full early.
Here’s a look at some of the best early probable matchups and teams to watch in March:
Proviso West sectional
Proviso East senior Shannon Brown is a leading candidate for Mr. Basketball and was named Thursday to the McDonald’s All-American Game. But he isn’t basking in his individual accomplishments.
“I just want to help my team win state,” he said. “That would be the ultimate thing for me.”
Last season Proviso East fell to New Trier in a supersectional game. District rival Proviso West, under former Westinghouse coach Chris Head, could pose a major stumbling block in a regional final this year for the Pirates, who have two big advantages: They are regional hosts and they have Brown, who averages 24.5 points a game.
No. 17 St. Joseph (18-7) would give either school fits in a sectional semifinal. Coach Gene Pingatore’s Chargers struggled earlier this season but are on an 11-game winning streak behind David Pearson, Chris Hart and Tony Freeman.
Curie and Hubbard, Public Red Central rivals, could end up meeting for the third time this season in a regional final at Argo, but only if Hubbard can first beat Argo, the SICA North champ.
For all the anticipation surrounding the regional showdowns, it’s easy to forget that fourth-ranked Fenwick is also favorite to win the sectional title. The Friars lost some momentum when they were upset by St. Ignatius on Friday but are contenders behind point guard Jason Okrzesik and swingman Vince Humphrey.
Young sectional
If the games go according to the seedings, second-ranked Crane (25-0), the Public League champion, and No. 9 Young (22-3) will meet in the sectional final. Crane likely would have to get past Von Steuben or Farragut in a sectional semifinal. Farragut (9-12) is the only team to beat Crane this season, but it had to forfeit the victory–and five others–for using an ineligible player.
“The fact that we’re not ranked No. 1 motivates us,” Crane coach Anthony Longstreet said. “These guys are seniors. They’ve seen everything they can see, except for a state championship.”
Young may face host Westinghouse (15-11), the defending state champ, in a regional final and will be hard-pressed to beat the Warriors a third time this season. Lincoln Park (19-7), a Public League tournament semifinalist led by guard Royce Parran, split with the Dolphins during the regular season. A third game would be a thriller.
Brother Rice sectional
Can No. 18 Brother Rice (19-7), led by Bob Frasor and Steve Woerheide, survive Public League opponents in regional play?
“It’s the only time we’ve been a No. 1 seed, and it’s our toughest path,” Brother Rice coach Pat Richardson said, referring to potential opponents that include Robeson (15-10). “Usually the No. 1 seed can get away with playing poorly. We have to play well, and we could still lose.”
Public Red South co-champs Simeon (15-6) and Julian (19-10) are heading for a sectional semifinal showdown, and Julian has the momentum coming off its Public League tournament title-game appearance.
Lincoln-Way East sectional
Watch for Shelby Jordan’s return for Hillcrest (25-1). The All-State candidate, who dislocated his left shoulder in February, is preparing for a comeback during the playoffs, according to Hillcrest coach Tom Cappel.
“He’s a stubborn kid,” Cappel said.
“But I’d be doing the same thing. I think he’ll try again, but I’m not sure when that will be.”
Every regional final from this sectional should be exciting. Top-seeded Hillcrest is expected to meet Lincoln-Way East on Friday, Thornwood (20-5) should play host to Thornridge (17-9), SICA East champ Bloom (23-4) will be host to Thornton (13-12) or Marian Catholic (13-12) and Homewood-Flossmoor (19-7) probably will travel to Rich Central (17-8).
Evanston sectional
Niles West sophomore Sead Odzic and junior Jarryd Odzic could give the Wolves (20-5) their first regional title since 1980, but only if they can beat Notre Dame (19-5) in the final. Notre Dame’s only losses since Christmas have been to St. Patrick and St. Joseph. Ibrahim Badmus, a 6-foot guard, leads the Dons. Niles West would have home-court advantage.
New Trier (17-8) likely will travel to Loyola (16-9) for a regional final and could struggle against the Ramblers and Colin Falls, a 6-4 guard averaging 26.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game. The Trevians are playing without twin brothers Matt and Lewis Powell, who were suspended last month for breaking team rules.
Loyola beat top-seeded and 13th-ranked St. Patrick a week ago, snapping the Shamrocks’ eight-game winning streak and opening the race for this sectional championship.
Evanston (16-7) is host to the sectional semis and final, but getting there could be troublesome. Either Holy Cross (19-7) or Leyden (8-16), with three-point ace Vito Regalado, will await the Wildkits in the Leyden regional final.
Worth watching
Lake Park (20-6), with juniors Ryan Cibulka and Andy Mack, and 2001 state champ Schaumburg (17-7), behind juniors Craig Reichel and Zach Pancratz, are on pace to meet in the Barrington sectional final. Zion-Benton (25-2), meanwhile, already has established itself as the best team in the North Suburban Conference, but the Zee-Bees now will try to prove there is no one better in Lake County. Grant (17-6) will be eager to beat them for the second time in two weeks.
Top teams Downstate
Peoria Central (23-1), behind junior Shaun Livingston and senior Dan Ruffin, is ranked second behind West Aurora in the latest Associated Press poll and has the top seed in the Normal West sectional.
Getting out of the sectional will not be easy for Central if second-seeded Bartonville Limestone (24-1) and star DeAaron Williams are standing in the way. Limestone handed Peoria its only defeat back in November. Springfield Southeast, led by Marcus Heard, or Lincoln could be Peoria’s supersectional opponent.
Quincy has the top seed in the Edwardsville sectional, in large part because of Marcus Medsker and his 21.7-point scoring average. The Blue Devils were without coach Loren Wallace for 15 games earlier this season. Initially the IHSA had suspended Wallace for a year for recruiting violations, but its board of directors modified the penalty. Brooks Allen, the player Wallace allegedly recruited, was ruled eligible in January. Carbondale, Belleville East and Belleville Althoff could keep Quincy from reaching the state quarterfinals.
And the winners are . . .
Supersectional predictions for Class AA boys basketball by Marlen Garcia, in bracket order
At United Center (No. 2)
Proviso East 65, St. Patrick 52
At Southern Ill. University
Quincy 60, Carbondale 55
At United Center (No. 1)
Crane 77, Julian 70
At Illinois State University
Peoria Central 62, Lincoln 52
At Northern Ill. University
West Aurora 70, York 50
At East Aurora
Hillcrest 68, St. Laurence 59
At The Mark of the Quad
Cities, Moline
Moline 60, Johnsburg 58
At Loyola University
Zion-Benton 55, Lake Park 53
