Can ACC be super again?
Roaring down the stretch last season to capture its first sectional title since 1991, the logical hope for Aurora Central Catholic's boys basketball team would be to exceed even that.
After falling to Rock Island, ACC coach Nathan Drye said he anticipated returning to the supersectional and winning it. The eighth-year coach also realizes the uncertainty of this goal.
"That would obviously be the way to top what we did last year," Drye said last week. "Will we be able to do that? I have no idea."
Several principals return vast experience from the team that finished 17-14 overall and 8-2 in the Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division, losing only to a Wheaton Academy squad that went 27-2 overall.
Robert DeMyers, a 6-foot-5 senior, will be the main offensive focus as the Chargers take an inside-out approach to try to loosen up perimeter defense. He strengthened his offensive repertoire after averaging 13 points last season on 53.5 percent shooting, and 7.4 rebounds. DeMyers is a huge factor defensively. He blocked 126 shots, more than 4 a game.
Joining junior forward Phil Schuetz in the starting lineup will be a pair of three-year varsity players, 6-foot junior guard Joe Medgyesi (4.8 points per game) and 6-3 senior forward Joe McEachern (6.2 points, 5.0 rebounds).
Reserve roles are likewise experienced. Guard Matt Czerak played in 27 games last season, and 6-3 forward Paul Kaminski, on a green light to shoot the open 3, joins returnees Kevin Bond and Matt Meyers.
"I think we've got a deeper talent level, and if we can get them coming together I think we'll have a shot to do some things," Drye said.
A giant key will be 5-10 point guard Anthony Andujar. Though injury plagued, the junior came on late to aid last year's supersectional march. Andujar embodies Drye's desire of up-tempo offense and pressure defense through speed and athleticism.
There is, however, a huge hole with the graduation of All-Area swingman Ryan Harreld. An ultimate clutch competitor, his 15.6-point average, 78 threes, and spirit will be missed. Harreld, Kaminski and Matt Miller also were the only regulars to shoot better than 56 percent from the foul line.
Without Harreld, shooting will be a challenge. Drye looks forward to the process of solving it.
"We're just talking about getting better and trying to play our best basketball at the end of the year," he said. "And that's what we were fortunate to be doing last year."