Boatright, East Aurora sail past Waubonsie

There was just too much Ryan Boatright for Waubonsie Valley to handle.

East Aurora's junior guard, who declared for the University of Southern California as a freshman but has since reconsidered, made 16 of 18 free throws and scored 31 points in Wednesday's 60-57 win over the visiting Warriors.

"I think the secret's out - he's really good," said Waubonsie Valley coach Steve Weemer. "You're not going to ever stop him, but I think you have to try to minimize his scoring by a number of guys helping (defensively).

"We tried to do some things to disrupt him tonight. I felt like it worked in the first half and in the second half he got loose a little bit more than I would have liked."

This was a nonconference game at East Aurora's grand gym, but whenever these two Upstate Eight Conference teams meet their familiarity makes it an event.

"It would have been a big win to make a statement," said Waubonsie guard Jakobi Johnson. "We know a lot of these guys. It would have been nice to beat them. We've got to play the whole game."

Waubonsie Valley (4-10) led most of the first three quarters - 8-6 in a ragged first quarter, 24-22 at halftime - but East Aurora (8-4) always scampered back.

Waubonsie handled the Tomcats' pressure nicely early, passing through a 1-2-2 press with Tyler Perkins scoring 12 of his team-high 16 points in the first half. Josh Lynn, a senior forward in his first year in the program, was a huge spark, with 7 of his 11 points and 6 of his 9 rebounds in the second quarter.

Boatright and Co. started visiting the foul line early in the second quarter, beginning a 23-of-31 night from the stripe compared to Waubonsie's 8-of-16 total.

The Warriors led 36-32 with 3:05 left in the third on consecutive Ryan Lippman 3s when Boatright converted a three-point play and Tramell Weathersby added a putback and a 3. Perkins and Tyler Edmondson countered to tie the score 40-40 entering the fourth quarter.

Lynn converted a Johnson assist to go up 42-40, but Boatright paced a decisive 8-2 run for a 48-44 Tomcats lead with 4:05 left. Baskets by Perkins and Edmondson twice had Waubonsie within 2 points, but Boatright's lay-in and 6-for-6 foul shooting had the Tomcats edging away.

"He did a great job, making 16 out of 18 free throws," said East Aurora coach Wendell Jeffries. "And you don't make 16 out of 18 free throws unless you get to the line 18 times. You have to give him credit for penetrating and taking the ball to the basket."