Aurora – After a combined 59 turnovers, 50 personal fouls and 59 free-throw attempts, Aurora Central outlasted Abraham Lincoln 74-62 on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, it was as brutal as shirts and skins during a physical education class.
“There was a good flow at first, then midway through the second (quarter) between the turnovers and fouls, the game needed to be a little smoother,” Aurora Central coach Bob Caton said.
Abraham Lincoln coach Vince Valdez concurred: “Yeah, and some of that can be attributed to both defensive philosophies. We both want to create a lot of pressure and a lot of turnovers. Both teams were effective.”
In improving to 10-0 overall, Aurora Central, ranked No. 3 in The Denver Post/9News Class 5A poll, led virtually the whole way against the 4A fourth-ranked Lancers (6-5). The Trojans threatened to run away and hide repeatedly, but Abraham Lincoln kept coming.
The Lancers, who frequently stopped the clock by getting to the free-throw line, got within 58-55 with 3:58 to play before a half-dozen turnovers (32 for the game) did them in.
Aurora Central’s Stephen Franklin led all scorers with 22 points despite making only 2-of-9 free throws. Sean Cunningham added 20 and Caston Mabin scored 10, including seven in the fourth quarter.
Junior Jorge Gutierrez paced Abraham Lincoln with 19 points, but made only three field goals, had his first three attempts rejected and was guilty of eight turnovers. Still, he made 13-of-16 free throws to keep the Lancers within range. Kadeem Thomas added 13 points.
Despite the array of mistakes, “We were actually pleased we could pressure them,” Valdez said of the Trojans. “And we’re using games like these against top teams to get ready (for the postseason).”
Meanwhile, the Trojans “knew we had our hands full,” Caton said, “and our effort was there. The mistakes we need to correct (such as protecting the ball), we can correct.”
Abraham Lincoln 14 9 20 19 – 62
Aurora Central 16 18 15 25 – 74
Abraham Lincoln – Gutierrez 3 13-16 19, Thomas 5 1-3 13, Torres 3 3-4 11, Pal 2 7-8 11, Preciado 1 0-0 2, Cruz 2 2-2 6, Carrasco 0 0-0 0, Rodriguez 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 26-33 62.
Aurora Central – Kelly 3 1-2 7, Mabin 4 1-2 10, Bond 3 0-1 6, Cunningham 6 7-8 20, Franklin 9 2-9 22, Goyer 0 0-0 0, Veasley 2 1-1 5, Johnson 1 2-3 4. Totals 28 14-26 74.
3-point goals – Torres 2, Thomas 2; Franklin 2, Cunningham, Mabin. Total fouls – Abraham Lincoln 25, Aurora Central 25. Fouled out – None. Technicals – None.
