Whatever it takes.
West Aurora’s Drew Lundberg adopted that philosophy last summer, a decision that was pretty much a no-brainer when coach Michael Fowler suggested it would be wise to switch positions.
Lundberg, a 6-foot-4 senior who had played on the wing as a junior, didn’t receive a lot of playing time on the varsity for the Blackhawks and agreed it was time to take his game inside.
“When he suggested switching to a little bit of a big man and filling that role, I figured whatever the coaches need from me I’ll do,” Lundberg said. “I would say it wasn’t too big of an adjustment.
“I used to play football, so I’m used to contact down there.”
West Aurora made good use of Lundberg, a tight end through his junior year in football who had nine points and four rebounds Friday night in a 64-49 Upstate Eight West win over Bartlett.
Junior guard Travis Brown, the team’s leading scorer, finished with 20 points to help the Blackhawks (11-8, 6-1) avenge a 60-58 loss on Dec. 5 to the Hawks (5-15, 4-3).
Brown, however, missed that game with a wrist injury. And the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Lundberg also has become a fixture in the starting lineup for West Aurora.
“There’s a big difference from last year to this year with Drew,” Brown said. “He stepped his game up on the 3-point line, defensive end and rebounding. He plays hard.”
Junior guard Jaden Matthews-Thomas scored nine points and senior guard Antonio Higgins added eight for the Blackhawks (11-8, 6-1), who won their fourth straight.
“They beat us at their place and played us tough here,” Fowler said. “I wasn’t too happy at halftime with us up by five. It reminded me of the first meeting. We weren’t invested defensively.”
Fowler felt a switch to a 1-3-1 zone disrupted Bartlett, which was led by junior guard Joey Cwik with 17 points.
West Aurora led 36-35 late in the third quarter, then closed with a 6-0 run to take control and pulled away in the fourth.
“Travis makes it really hard to turn them over,” Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. “The first time we played them we forced 20 turnovers. This game, they got a lot more shots.”
Lundberg, who recently committed to NCAA Division III Lawrence, credited his work with his M-14 AAU team last offseason in preparing for his new role.
“I would say working hard every day, finding myself, like not just being an offensive player but developing my game really on the defensive end,” Lundberg said. “Just doing whatever it takes to make winning basketball plates for my team. I feel like that’s been my biggest accomplishment.
“It’s really helped me develop as an all-around player.”
Fowler didn’t ask for a total makeover, however.
“I told him he had to play inside, be a screener, a pick-and-pop guy and he’s taken to it,” Fowler said of the concept of setting screens and popping out to take a shot as well as setting a screen and then rolling to the basket. “When he’s open, he has the green light to shoot it.”
Lundberg often splits post duties with 6-8 junior Jordan Weeks, who transferred in late summer from Aurora Christian.
“He has been kind of patient from last year to this year to get his time, get his minutes,” Fowler said of Lundberg. “Now, he’s in the starting lineup and hopefully can continue to knock down shots for us from the perimeter.”
Lundberg gave up football to pursue his dream of playing college basketball.
“My hopes and expectations, obviously, are winning with my team and having the best time out there because after this year I’m done wearing this uniform,” he said. “Make every moment count.
“Funny thing about AAU, starting out I used to play point guard. This year has been a big switch, but whatever role the team needs, I’ll play.”
