Lutze's late 3 lifts Aurora Christian

CLIFTON - Much has been made about how opposing teams deal with the frenetic pace fostered by Reed-Custer's basketball team this season.

Aurora Christian, however, didn't fret for a second about what to do and at times the Eagles actually thrived in the chaos.

That attitude served them well in the waning seconds of the Class 2A Clifton Central sectional as the Eagles showed nerves of steel in hanging on for a 59-58 victory.

"We don't have much size, but we've got some quickness," Aurora Christian coach Pat McNamara Sr. said. "And those guys, they bring it. We just told our guys, if they get the break, take the break. And if we don't, spread them out and make them run around a little bit. It was a great game. Everybody got their five bucks worth."

The win sends the Eagles (25-5) into Tuesday night's Class 2A DeKalb Northern Illinois supersectional where it will face Rockridge, a 45-38 winner over Winnebago.

After Aurora Christian seemed to take control of the game with an 8-0 run at the end of the third quarter to give them a 46-41 lead, Reed-Custer's Brent Headrick refused to let the Comets go quietly. Headrick scored on three consecutive Reed-Custer (27-4) possessions and then the battle really began.

Neither team garnered much of a foothold in the game's last five minutes. Reed-Custer took a momentary one-point lead, only to have that erased by a transition lay-in by Tanner Dissell and a steal and score from Jeremiah Wright.

Reed-Custer responded from long range. The Comets, who had connected for over 200 3-pointers this season as a team, were off the mark for most of the game from long range. But Reed-Custer's Tommy Shaw, who had missed his first 10 shots from 3-point land in the game, finally drained one to tie the game at 56.

After a costly Aurora Christian turnover, Reed-Custer got Travis Schoonover to the line on a loose ball foul. Schoonover drained them both and Aurora Christian had a little over 30 seconds to try to respond.

They wouldn't need anywhere near that much time as simple ball rotation found RD Lutze about four feet beyond the arc. Lutze didn't hesitate as what turned out to be the game-winning shot rippled through the net.

"I saw an opening and I knew I was shooting it as soon as I got it," Lutze said. "Coach said take the first open look. And it was an open look, so I put it up."

Reed-Custer's last possession unraveled from the get-go as Aurora Christian forced a turnover and successfully ran out the clock to secure its place in the Elite Eight.

"That was crazy," Lutze said. "There was so much stuff going on, I didn't really know what had happened until the game was over."

Jake Wolfe and Lutze led Aurora Christian with 16 points. Pat McNamara Jr. added 15. Reed-Custer's Schoonover led all scorers with 22.