Oswego East's pressure ends Batavia's season

When the NCAA pairings are announced on Selection Sunday, or when the seeds are set for the NBA playoffs, all the experts talk about which team got a favorable matchup. Because, the reasoning goes, matchups are everything.

The same probably could go for the IHSA playoffs. With a No. 12 seed, Batavia knew it was going to have to upset someone to reach a regional final. But the Bulldogs didn't get any favors with the matchup, going up against an Oswego East team whose strength - quickness - played into perhaps Batavia's main problem this year.

Oswego East turned the Bulldogs over 26 times in the Wolves' 63-53 victory in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley regional, building big leads in the first and third quarters for enough of a cushion to withstand Batavia's late charge.

Fifth-seed Oswego East (23-4) will play No. 13 West Aurora (13-15) for the regional title at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Batavia's season ends at 18-9.

Nine of those Batavia turnovers came in the first quarter as Oswego East raced to a 21-7 lead. Batavia never led in the game and it was tied just once, 2-2 on the first of Batavia senior Ricky Clopton's game-high 24 points.

"We just played more aggressive," Oswego East senior guard Jay Harris said. "Every other night we play good defense, tonight we played great defense. We got them uncomfortable early and I think that's what led us to the win."

The Wolves closed the first quarter on a 12-0 run. Adam LeTourneau got Batavia off to a good start in the second quarter when he stole the opening inbounds pass and fed Jesse Coffey for a layup.

That started a good stretch for the Bulldogs who trimmed the 14-point deficit to 26-22 on a pair of Clopton free throws. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Clopton picked up his third foul seconds later, and with their leading scorer on the bench for the final two minutes Batavia again got rattled to fall behind 35-26 at halftime.

"Turnovers obviously were a big factor," Batavia coach Jim Roberts said. "Against a team as strong defensively as this there are going to be turnovers, but there were a number of unforced turnovers that really came back to haunt us."

Oswego East took its biggest lead with 2:54 left in the third quarter at 47-31. Again Batavia rallied. Elliott Vaughn scored two buckets, including a slam off Sam Shump's assist. Clopton's basket cut the Wolves' lead to 49-37 after three quarters.

Clopton and Cole Gardner went to work inside at the start of the fourth quarter. Gardner's third-chance putback brought the Bulldogs within 10 points, and Clopton kept the momentum going scoring on Coffey's feed and then hitting 2 free throws.

That brought Batavia as close at it would get, 51-47 with 3:06 left. Oswego East scored its next 10 points at the free-throw line, while Batavia's only other points came on 3-pointers by Coffey and Braden Hrack.

"When it was 21-7 it would have been easy to run and hide," Roberts said. "I thought our kids got it back. Obviously when you are that far down it puts you in a pretty strong predicament."

Vaughn, a junior who led Batavia's 38-29 rebounding advantage with 14 boards, credited the seniors for the comeback.

"Our seniors did a great job keeping their composure and we just fed off that," Vaughn said. "We took it a bucket at a time and ended up being down four with the ball."

Clopton (9 rebounds) and Gardner (7 rebounds) helped Batavia counter Oswego East's quickness by controlling the paint.

"Coach scouted these guys and told me we had a little bit of a size advantage and I should work my butt off on the offensive and defensive glass," Vaughn said. "I worked as hard as I could."

Four Panthers scored in double figures, led by Wesley Brooks with 19 points. LeTourneau hounded Harris, whose 18 points were below his average.

Harris's superb senior season has helped him generate Division I interest lately including Illinois State and Illinois. He led the Wolves' defensive charge with 5 steals.

"Tonight I think this is one of the best nights of defense we've ever had," Harris said. "Especially against a good team. I think it's kind of an upset."

Pressed on how a No. 5 seed beating a No. 12 could be an upset, Harris explained.

"I'm a Facebook guy. All I heard is Batavia is going to beat you guys, Batavia is going to beat you guys."

Batavia graduates seven seniors, including starters Clopton, LeTourneau and Levi Maxey.

"We are appreciative of the journey they made with us," Roberts said. "I thought our kids did a good job as the season progressed fighting through some adversity."