AURORA — Aurora High School was the second stop on the Tigerland Travels tour. The Huskies have a rich basketball tradition, but are coping with the loss of star Baylor Scheierman, who graduated in 2019 and now plays an integral role for South Dakota State.
Aurora, Nebraska is a town of almost 4,500 residents located about 40 minutes from Hastings. Aurora plays their games in class B, despite having an enrollment less than half the size of Hastings High. Though the Huskies have made the state tournament each year since 2016, they have been stopped in their tracks each time. Their most recent state championship came back in 1987.
Lincoln Southwest rumbled into town in a match of David against Goliath on December 14. The Southwest Silverhawks have a listed enrollment of 1501, which heavily outmatched Aurora, who tips the scales at just over 300 students. Despite this obvious discrepancy, Aurora played a close game with their class A opponent. Leading by just two points at the half, the Lincoln Southwest team struggled to shoot the ball effectively, opening up chances for C Nate Boerkircher to score easy layups on an ineffective transition defense.
Midway through the third quarter, a frustrated Southwest team, struggling all game with transition defense, switched to a full court press. Aurora’s offense was unfazed, but Southwest’s offense found a groove and started hitting three-pointers to open up a comfortable lead. Aurora stayed within arm’s length throughout the game, staying within six points with a minute left in the game, but Lincoln Southwest hit their free throws to close out the game, handing Aurora a 63-55 loss.
The Huskies had amassed a 3-7 record prior to their matchup with Hastings High on Tuesday. Traditionally, the Huskies dominate the Tigers, but this year, a strong Hastings team was able to put away Aurora 49-45, as Connor Creech continued to pile on his school record career points total.
Aurora looks to right the ship as their season progresses, though their schedule won’t get any easier with two more Class A matchups in Columbus and Ralston.
This story is part of an ongoing series. Throughout the 2019-2020 basketball season, staff writer Carter Wenburg will be traveling to various high schools to compare the experience to Hastings High.
