BOLINGBROOK -- Hopeful fans of the East Aurora Tomcats and Neuqua Valley Wildcats gathered for the Regional Championship held Friday night at Bolingbrook, hoping to bring home the plaque.
After 15 lead changes, 10 ties and an overtime, shouts of ‘East side; Where you from, where you from,’ echoed through the gym, as the Tomcats edged out the Wildcats for the Regional Championship.
Following a quiet night in the Regional Semifinals against Plainfield North, Tomcat senior Ryan Boatright tallied a game-high 31 points with five rebounds and five assists.
Tom Okapal registered a double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds. The Tomcats advanced to the sectional tournament without team’s second top scorer Snoop Viser, who reinjured his finger in P.E. class the previous day.
“We knew it would be tough and come to the end,” said Tomcats coach Wendell
Jefferies. “Neuqua (Valley) came with a great game plan. We were having trouble with their triangle two, but when you have the best player in the state (in Boatright), that really helps.”
The advantage was with East Aurora, having already won two regular season games against Neuqua Valley.
During the first half, it was difficult for both teams to connect on shots. It was anyone’s game at halftime with East Aurora ahead of Neuqua Valley 20-19. There was no clear margin in most of the game as they traded baskets. The most either team trailed was by five points.
Neuqua Valley’s Sam Johnson, who finished with a team high 20 points, was five-for-six in the second half from behind the three point arc.
However, Boatright took the team on his back, scoring 20 of his 31 points in the second half. The team's struggles reminded Boatright of his teammate Viser.
“We were concerned coming in,” Boatright said of Viser’s injury. “We were going into battle without our soldier, but at the same time we got to play hard. Tom (Okapal) was a big key in the game. If we were going to win, he had to be big in the post.”
The third quarter ended with East Aurora up 33-30.
But if Neuqua Valley was the underdog, they didn't get the memo. Clutch shot after clutch shot were traded behind the arc for the Tomcats, while the Wildcats shot well from the free-throw line.
Wildcat Jim Stocki finished with 14 points (including 8-10 from the free stripe) and five rebounds. Wildcat Alex Karkazis pitched in 13 points and eight rebounds.
Late in the fourth quarter, it became the Boatright and Johnson Show, as they traded threes till the score was deadlocked at 48. After a good look by the Wildcats, they hit the back of the iron and were forced into overtime.
In overtime, East Aurora would finally break the back-and-forth trend and go on a 5-0 run inside one minute.
With 5.2 seconds remaining, the Tomcats stretched their lead to 62-59. As time was descending, the Wildcats frantically directed the ball up the court, and received one last look from behind the three-point arc. However, like the Wildcats' shot in regulation, it did not meet the cylinder.
Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“All year, we’ve been taking extra time after practices,” Okapal said. “It’s a good feeling. It’s not about one person; it’s about going out there and giving it 100 percent.”
Even though Friday's loss ended their season, Wildcats coach Todd Sutton was proud of the effort of his players.
“You can’t play any better or any harder than (Neuqua Valley) did (Friday),” Sutton
said. “They have the best player in the state (in Boatright), and (Okapal) was fantastic on the boards. This (stinks) for the seniors.”
The Tomcats return home for a chance to advance in sectionals, for which they will enjoy home-court advantage.
Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We have to stay mentally tough,” Boatright said. “It’s huge to go back home, and get a chance to play at our house. We have nothing to lose and still have a chance to go down state. This is great being in my senior year.”
