Conant just never found a way to overcome the way it started against Auburn on Tuesday in the Class 4A Hoffman Estates Supersectional at Sears Centre.
The No. 14 Cougars were overmatched by Rockford Auburn’s speed and aggressive defensive early and quickly found themselves in a double-digit hole. Conant eventually fought back to make game the competitive, but couldn’t get over the hump and fell 57-43 to the Knights.
“We weren’t ready to play on this stage with our youth,” said Conant coach Tom McCormack, whose starting lineup included one senior. “We fought that pretty well all year long. We didn’t fight it tonight. The game was teetering. We kept making runs back, and we kept making runs back, and we couldn’t get to a ball. I think a lot of that was our youth and inexperience.”
That was especially seen in the Cougars’ decision-making. Conant (23-7) committed 14 turnovers in the first half and trailed 32-16 at halftime.
The Cougars were smarter with the ball in the second half and got back into the game by outscoring Auburn 13-6 in the third quarter. But every time Conant cut Auburn’s lead to nine points, the Knights (25-6) had an answer.
With so many of their players returning next season, the Cougars are hopeful Tuesday’s experience will benefit them a year from now. Conant senior Brandon Vinson was confident of that.
“It’s a learning experience for us,” said Vinson, who scored a team-high 11 points. “The Cougars will be back next year.”
Auburn senior guard Daevion Dixon made five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 18 points. Sophomore Benjamin Schols (10 points) and junior James Sotos (nine points) contributed for Conant.
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Scott Powers is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Daevion Dixon, Auburn, 18 points, 5 3-pointers.
Key performers: Conant – Brandon Vinson, 11 points, 3 3-pointers; Benjamin Schols, 10 points; James Sotos, 9 points. Auburn — Juwuane Parchman, 13 points, 2 steals; Trayvon Tyler, 10 points.