With a regional championship on the line and injuries mounting, sophomore forward Jalen Callaway was ready to check all the boxes for Aurora Christian.
The 6-foot-2 Callaway made just his second start of the season Friday night for the ailing Eagles, who were without senior forward Zach Zappia due to a sprained ankle, while senior forward Asa Johnson was hoping to return to action after missing nearly a month..
“Next man up — you’ve got to step up,” Callaway said, echoing the age-old refrain of backups who know their turn may come in an instant. “Everybody, we have to push each other. We’re a pretty good team and we’re all available.
“My role? Get some rebounds and do what I can to dominate in the paint.”
Check. And check.
Callaway provided an unexpected spark by producing 12 points, six rebounds and two steals for the host Eagles in a 61-57 win over Byron in the Class 2A Aurora Christian Regional championship game at Don Davidson Gymnasium.
Senior guard Jacob Baumann scored a team-high 22 points and junior guard Joe DeCort added 11 for third-seeded Aurora Christian (22-7), which advanced to a 7 p.m. Wednesday semifinal in the Mendota Sectional against Johnsburg (21-11), which beat Richmond-Burton 56-53.
“We had injuries and sickness and had to force feed some of our young kids and they responded,” Aurora Christian coach Dan Beebe said. “Jalen is as raw as you could imagine.
“But his upside is absolutely huge. He’s so athletic, crazy athletic.”
Simliar things could be said about senior guard Cason Newton, the program’s all-time scoring leader, who came up big with a game-high 28 points for Byron (24-7).
Aurora Christian received four points and four rebounds from the 6-foot-4 Johnson, a Northern Illinois football commit who was cleared by his doctor at 1 p.m. to return from a knee injury.
Byron coach Matt Huels felt Johnson, a quarterback recruit, made a big difference.
“Bringing him back, especially with his size when we’re almost all 5-11 and 6-foot, really helped them,” Huels said. “Having that physical body in there helped them out a ton.
“They guarded really, really hard, too.”
Newton made three straight 3-pointers to open the game and had half of his team’s points in the 48-48 tie after three quarters before cooling late in the fourth and missing five straight 3-pointers.
Jacob Baumann gave the Eagles the lead for good at 51-50 on his third 3-pointer of the game, much needed with junior guard Preston Morel and freshman point guard Luke Baumann, Jacob’s brohter, playing with three and four fouls, respectively.
Jacob Baumann returned the favor, however, calling for clear outs and drawing three of Newton’s four fouls by taking him to the basket.
“They switch on every screen so I could take it right to him,” Baumann said. “He’s not a great defender, but he can shoot the lights out on any given night.”
Varsity isn’t totally new to Callaway, who emerged last fall for the Eagles in football by rushing for 656 yards and 10 touchdowns and catching 53 passes from Johnson for 722 yards and 11 TDs.
“It’s in his blood,” Johnson said of Callaway, who made 6 of 7 shots, all from close range. “He was our star running back. He’s a crazy athlete and he just does what he’s told. We needed him.
“He’s aggressive and he can jump out of the gym.”
Johnson’s pass connected with Callaway for an assist on one of his four layups. Luke Baumann found him twice, Morel once, and Callaway scored twice off rebound putbacks.
“Jalen was finding wide open layups all game long,” Jacob Baumann said. “It was amazing. He does a lot of the little things. I’m really happy for him, he’s only going to get better and better.”
As far Callaway?
He was happy to fill a much-needed role.
“It feels good,” Callaway said. “I’m just glad to play with my guy (Johnson). We’re glad he got to come back.”
