Night of Hoops a trifecta of blockbusters

The 15th Annual Batavia Night of Hoops might need a new name.

It's gone from good to great to better in the last decade and a half. But next Saturday's lineup of marquee games might just be the best. The event has really outdone itself in 2008.

How about "Night of Hoops Heaven?" Or "Showdown Showcase?" Or "Preview to Peoria?" Or "Jim Roberts' Excellent Adventure?"

Certainly, the superlatives fit. Roberts, Batavia's longtime coach and scheduling architect, has compiled a Who's Who of state-ranked, Top 20 contenders in Illinois.

Game 1 features East Aurora and freshman sensation Ryan Boatright, who's grooming his skills for a college career at USC, where's he already verbally committed to coach Tim Floyd. The Tomcats will be pitted against one of Illinois' most storied programs, St. Joe's, and its legendary coach, Gene Pingatore.

Next up are two more programs rich in basketball history and tradition, Quincy and West Aurora. West has been among the state's winningest programs over the last decade, with 20-win seasons in 11 of the last 12 years.

Quincy is best known for its dominance in the 1980s, when the Blue Devils reached the Final Four four times, including their state championship run in 1981 on the Bruce Douglas-led team that finished 33-0.

Next Saturday's matchup will be just the second meeting between West Aurora and Quincy. The first one -- at the Pontiac Tournament in 1980 -- is a notorious memory for Blackhawks fans. Quincy won that game 87-23, dealing West its worst defeat in the history of the program. It was also West's lowest point total ever.

Reportedly, West coach Gordie Kerkman was none too pleased that Quincy left its starters in until the final minutes. OK, so it was 28 years ago. Forget the revenge factor, but West would prefer not to be winless against any school, particularly with that historical blemish against Quincy.

Ironically, Quincy dealt Batavia a 10-point defeat in December -- one of just three losses for the Bulldogs this season -- not to mention their worst.

Finally, the evening's capper, a Saturday night special featuring defending state champion Simeon against the host Bulldogs.

"They are a team that's big, quick, strong, fast and well-disciplined," Roberts said of Simeon. "They bring the total package to the table."

And that's what Roberts had in mind when he originated Night of Hoops in 1994 -- to assemble a basketball smorgasbord of the best competition he could find from near and far. Even in years without the high-profile, star-power teams like Simeon, Roberts has featured compelling local matchups like Geneva-East Aurora and Batavia-St. Charles East.

This year may top them all, however, with an exciting blend of local schools taking on state-caliber opponents.

"Hopefully this will give basketball fans in the Fox Valley -- not just Batavia -- an opportunity to take a look at some teams they don't normally get to see," Roberts said.

The attractiveness is not just limited to fans, either. East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries -- whose team plays at 4:30 -- will be altering his routine this year.

"Most years I'd leave after that 4:30 game and drive somewhere to scout a future opponent," Jeffries said. "I think I'll be sticking around to watch those other two games. That's going to be some great basketball."

Roberts has always sought to fill the Bulldogs' schedule with the toughest competition out there. His belief is not in padding the win column in quantity, but in finding quality challenges. His teams always get better, because they play the best opponents.

It leads you to believe that if Roberts had his druthers, he'd schedule only Top 20 teams from start to finish.

It's a big reason why Batavia basketball rates among the state's elite programs. Given the status and popularity that Night of Hoops has developed over the years, it would be no surprise to learn that coaches are lining up outside the doors at 1200 W. Wilson St. to get their teams in on the action.

"Everyone was very agreeable to come and play," Roberts said. "Sometimes things just fall into place."

Be assured at least 2,400 fans will "fall into place" next Saturday. That would put Batavia's gym at full-load capacity. And I'm guessing they could sell twice as many tickets at that.

Surprisingly, Roberts said there's never been discussion of moving this event to a larger venue. But a blockbuster night like what's in store Saturday could be made even bigger at a place like NIU's Convocation Center or the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, where Batavia played Marshall before a huge crowd several weeks ago.

Both arenas hold in the range of 10,000 fans.

Even so, Saturday's event illustrates how much Batavia -- and its basketball program -- have grown. Batavia is no longer a small river town, but a busy suburb amid the metropolitan sprawl.

One thing that hasn't changed is that every game in that gym is a new chapter in history. The ones written next Saturday, however, may just require a special section all their own.