Larkin executed the inbounds play exactly the way coach Deryn Carter drew it up.With the score tied at 60 and 4.3 seconds remaining, Jamarion Stubbs inbounded the ball to Fernando Perez, who laid the ball in the basket as time expired.

When it comes to devising a strategic defensive game plan against Bartlett’s 7-foot-3 senior center Conrad Luczynski, opposing teams will try about anything. Whether it be a physical man-to-man approach or more double and triple teaming, East Aurora (10-5, 5-2) couldn’t figure out the right combination Friday night.

Seven combined players finishing in double figures?A freshman emerging from obscurity to nearly tip the scales for the road team?The schools’ student sections trying to one-up one another on a frigid Saturday afternoon?These ingredients essentially have one common denominator at a January boys basketball game in Aurora: yet another fabled encounter between two of the oldest high schools in thestate.

The Tuesday night boys basketball game had all the trappings of a showdown between two teams undefeated in their conference.There were invariable runs by both teams, hard-fought possessions and multiple shots each side would like to have back.

Here’s a look at the boys basketball season in the Upstate Eight

East Aurora notched a convincing 74-55 season-opening victory over St. Charles East at the St. Charles East Thanksgiving tournament on Monday.