Aurora Central Defeats Heritage In Playoffs
Aurora Central got a total team effort in their first playoff victory in six years Wednesday night defeating the Heritage Eagles 63-50 in front of the home crowd. Seven different players scored for the Trojans and three were in double figures. However Heritage hung tough for three quarters behind a tough zone defense and senior Jack Peck’s shooting.
The Trojans and Eagles traded baskets in the first half. Neither team gained a lead larger than five points. Aurora Central switched between a man to man and zone defenses to try and contain Peck. Meanwhile Heritage used a zone defense to slow down the attacking Trojans. The Eagles led 18-16 at the end of the first quarter after a couple of Aurora Central turnovers in the final minute. After the first quarter saw both teams play at a fast pace the second quarter slowed. Both teams played very solid defense and both teams best players were saddled with foul trouble. The Trojans LaDarius Thomas was sent to the bench with three fouls mid way through the second quarter and Peck picked up his second and was ineffective the rest of the quarter. Usman Koromah rebound and outback with 2:15 left in the quarter was the last basket scored in the first half and gave the Trojans a 27-25 led.
Koromah started the second half off strong scoring five of Aurora Central’s seven points in the quarter to push the Trojan led to 35-27. Then things started to slow for Central as Thomas picked up his fourth foul and was sent to the bench until four minutes left in the game. Heritage went on a 9 -2 run and took a 37-36 lead, four of those points scored by Peck. Then something clicked for the Trojans. Koromah made another lay up and Dom Jackson drained a three to put the Trojan back in the lead.
With Thomas still on the bench, Larry Thomas hit a big three pointer to put Aurora Central up 44-39 to begin the fourth quarter. Then it was Elijah Coleman’s turn for the Trojans. Coleman had a quiet third quarter offensively but erupted for eight points in the final quarter. Coleman scored five straight and put the Trojans up 10 points. But Heritage’s Peck hit his first of two three pointers in quarter to cut the Trojan led, and then LaDarius Thomas re-entered the game for the Trojans. Thomas scored eight points in the quarter shooting 6 of 6 from the free throw line thwarting any Eagle comeback.
Thomas ended the game with this dunk to make the final 63-50.
Double Digit Scorers
Aurora Central
Elijah Coleman 17
LaDarius Thomas 16
Usman Koromah 14
Heritage
Jack Peck 22
