Plenty of company with me in standing room only section

I never imagined using the words Punxsutawney Phil and Batavia basketball in the same sentence -- until today.

But the world's most publicized rodent this side of Chip 'n Dale popped his head out last Saturday and predicted there will be six more weeks of winter.

Words that probably send TV meteorologist Tom Skilling into a tizzy, but ones I didn't exactly wish to hear.

At the last minute last Saturday, I decided to attend the final game of Batavia's annual Night of Hoops -- Batavia vs. Simeon.

Along with approximately 2,400 of my closest friends.

From my upright position in the northeast corridor of the steamy Batavia gym, I could see a cast of notables who must have arrived pretty early to get their choice seats -- St. Charles East senior forward Collin Pryor and members of Geneva's basketball team, among others.

But what really caught my attention was the number of spectators taking in the action standing alongside me. It was a veritable Who's Who list that included West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman, St. Charles North players Nic Higgins, Mike Lefelstein and Danny Jimenez (who came after their evening game with Waubonsie Valley), Geneva girls basketball standout Taylor Whitley -- heck, even a pair of referees who had worked the West Aurora-Quincy game earlier.

The game certainly lived up to its marquee billing as the state's No. 2-ranked Wolverines outlasted the Bulldogs 68-65 in double overtime.

Moments after the final seconds ran off the clock, additional proof was offered that this wasn't your average game.

When's the last time you saw the wife of a losing team's coach stop to take pictures of the scoreboard?

And I can't remember the last time (if there was a time) when Batavia basketball coach Jim Roberts held his postgame press conference from a concession table.

Outside of the 2006 East Aurora sectional basketball championship clash between Batavia and West Aurora or perhaps the 2006 state semifinal football game that pitted Batavia vs. Geneva at Burgess Field, I can't recall a more spirited high school athletic event held in our area over the last 10 years.

"It was just awesome -- the atmosphere," said Batavia guard Phil Albrecht, who helped keep his team close early with his torrid outside shooting. "Even though we lost, it was just awesome to be a part of."

Despite pouring in a game-high 29 points, senior forward Nick Fruendt was his own worst critic after the game.

"If I make one free throw, one more," said Fruendt, who finished 5-of-11 from the line. "I could have made that layup when I got to the basket and got two free throws.

"There are a lot of things I wish I could have back but I don't think I came out (of the game). I tried my hardest. I gave it everything I had."

In all likelihood, there will be bigger games in store for the Northwestern-bound Fruendt. But there may not be a more memorable one than Groundhog Day -- 2008.

"That was probably the best one of the four (Night of Hoops games)," said Fruendt. "Just having all my friends and family out there was something I'll never forget.

"Coach Roberts made this happen for us and they're memories I'll never forget. This was everything I could have asked for. (There's) only one more thing I could have asked for -- to win."

With all of the emotionally draining moments spent Saturday night, Batavia's 70-66 loss to Glenbard South less than 72 hours later (Tuesday) shouldn't come as a shock.

Perhaps Roberts could feel it coming as early as 10 p.m. Saturday.

"I think the value of this game (vs. Simeon) is that we've got to prove night in and night out that we can play this way because we did not play real well after the Marshall game (1-point loss)," he said. "We were very fortunate out in DeKalb (the next game, winning 49-46).

"So the growth is coming back and going into the conference now. We (9-2) have people (Geneva, 8-3; DeKalb, 7-4) breathing down our backs in the conference.

"The value of this game? That we've got to continue to work as hard as we did tonight (Saturday)."

One big question remains.

Will the Bulldogs' season extend for another five weeks?

Go ask Punxsutawney Phil.