Team effort lifts Burlington Central over Aurora Christian
Burlington Central knew exactly what it wanted to do Monday in its quarterfinal matchup with Aurora Christian at the 53rd annual Plano Christmas Classic.
The Rockets weren't going to let Eagles sharpshooter RD Lutze beat them. They played box-and-one, they played man-to-man with no help off Lutze, they hedged on screens - and they held Lutze to 3 field goal attempts in 31 minutes.
Lutze made 2 of those shots including a long 3, but his 5 points were well below his season average as the Rockets stayed unbeaten with a 65-56 victory.
No. 2 seed Burlington Central (10-0) will play defending tournament champions Dixon in the second semifinal Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
Luke McCurdy played much of that defense on Lutze.
"We did some really nice things to take away their top scorer," Rockets coach Brett Porto said. "The way we helped in our man-to-man and the way Luke guarded him was really good."
McCurdy also was part of a balanced offensive attack with 12 points. Zach Schutta scored 13, Ryan Fitzgerald and Ethan Mayfield 11, and TaVontae Harris and Joseph Ratzek 8.
"We play as five a lot, everyone is going to get a touch, everyone is going to have a night," McCurdy said. "It's really a selfless team. It's a lot of fun in the locker room, practices, bus rides. It's a good group to have it (being unbeaten) happen to."
Aurora Christian (8-2) led for much of the second quarter before the Rockets took control with a 9-0 run to close the first half. Trailing 29-26, Fitzgerald's 3-point play tied the game. The Rockets then scored 6 points in a hurry on transition baskets from Ratzek, Michael Kalusa and Mayfield to lead 35-29 at halftime.
"I thought those guys beat us to the boards, beat us to loose balls," Eagles coach Pat McNamara said. "We didn't play great interior defense. The better team won tonight."
Eagles sophomore Jake Wolfe scored the final 4 points of the third quarter before Jeremiah Wright opened the fourth with a drive that cut the Rockets' lead to 45-43.
Aurora Christian would get no closer. Mayfield responded with a baseline drive, and the Rockets were able to keep a safe distance despite 19 points from Wolfe, 13 from McNamara and 10 by Wright to advance to a matchup with third-seed Dixon led by Nebraska-bound Isaiah Roby.
"Dixon is a great team, Roby is a heck of a player and they know how to play with him," Porto said. "They are dangerous. It's going to have to be all five of our guys."