Aurora Central wins track meet

Eisenhower was exactly how Aurora Central Catholic Coach Nathan Drye depicted — 3-point shots and substitutions en masse.

Eisenhower attempted 56 threes but made just 16, enabling ACC to win 81-73 in Day One action at the 27th annual Matt Laurich Christmas Classic at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora.

“The closest thing I can compare it to is AAU basketball,” said ACC forward Tim Fernandez, who scored 18 points with 9 rebounds.

“It's really up-tempo, they shoot a lot of 3s, not a lot of concern for getting back on defense. But it posed a unique problem because I don't think a lot of teams are prepared for that kind of pressure.”

Eisenhower (5-6) hit ACC with its 3-point barrage and full-court press straightaway, launching 32 threes in a first half that, after 13 lead changes and 5 ties, ended with Aurora Central (5-5) leading 42-29.

For every Eisenhower 3 there seemed to be a Charger open on the other end. ACC prepared for the Blue Island team by going 5-on-7, the extra two defenders representing trapping Cardinals.

“Just not to get stuck in their traps and cut back to the ball,” was Drye's instruction, ACC forward Robert DeMyers said. DeMyers scored 20 points with 17 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

“Just look for the open shot and make plays, because we weren't really going to be able to run our offense,” DeMyers said.

Eisenhower cut the 13-point halftime deficit to 44-40 on a Dustin Lewis 3-pointer. DeMyers answered with a putback, a dunk from Joe Medgyesi's pass, and a conventional 3-pointer.

Terrell Miller led a long-range comeback that had the Cardinals leading 61-59 after three quarters.

Corey Evan's 2 free throws had Eisenhower up 66-64 with 5:29 left in the game, but ACC guard Ryan Harreld was fouled making a layup. He capped the three-point play and Joey McEachern added a lay in for a 69-66 Charger lead with 4:27 left.

Terrell, who scored a team-high 17 points, got his team within 69-68 when Fernandez converted 3 straight baskets and McEachern another for a 77-68 lead with 2:30 to play.

Medgyesi and Matt Miller went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the last 34 seconds.

“It was like a track meet, you're just sprinting back and forth,” said 18-point scorer Harreld. “They sub five-and-five like every two minutes so they're fresh and we're kind of tired. But we got it done.”