To start the night, Beecher’s Adyn McGinley was named homecoming king.
Then he and his team went out and won a big basketball game.
Because Beecher doesn’t have a football team, homecoming comes during the winter season and Friday night was the big celebration.
“This is it — this is big,” McGinley said. “Big crowd. The dance after the game. It’s a big party.”
The Bobcats had an extra bounce in their step Friday, beating Clifton Central 85-53 in a battle of the top two teams in the River Valley Conference that kept their record perfect.
Zack Johnson led Beecher (20-0, 8-0) with 24 points and added five rebounds and six assists. McGinley, a senior guard, contributed 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds. Ethan Rydberg had 16 points and seven assists.
The Bobcats looked like a well-oiled machine right away, racing out to a 29-17 lead after the first quarter against the Comets (14-7, 7-2).
More Top Picks Best Grain Storage Bins For Homesteads
So, what felt better for McGinley — winning the king’s crown or winning the game?
“The game, obviously,” McGinley said. “They were No. 2 in the conference, and that pretty much sealed up our No. 1 seed in the conference.
“When the conference tournament rolls around, we get to play on our home court. Everything comes through this court.”
Beecher coach Tyler Shireman liked seeing McGinley both on the basketball court and on the homecoming court.
“He deserves it,” Shireman said of McGinley being the homecoming king. “He’s a great basketball player, but he’s such a nice kid from a great family.
“He could have such an ego about him and have all of these thoughts and feelings about what he thinks he is and how many shots he should get in a game. None of that matters to him.”
McGinley averaged 20.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a junior in earning all-state recognition. Because the word is out that he’s a threat, opponents have been trying to shut him down.
As a result, his numbers this season are slightly down at 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists. But he also has been on the uptick by averaging 3.2 steals and shooting 53.7% from 3-point range.
“He brings everything — he’s our main guy on the team,” Johnson said. “He can shoot the ball. He can drive. He can almost dunk on people.
“He’s our leader.”
Heading into this week’s action, Beecher was just one of five undefeated boys basketball teams in the state, joining Waubonsie Valley, Mount Zion, Tolono Unity and Byron.
The Bobcats, who were ranked sixth in the latest Associated Press poll, even picked up a first-place vote.
Shiremen said he’s working on getting a game together with Byron in early February. He has other big games on the docket as well before the postseason.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure we’re ready for regional play,” he said. “It doesn’t matter about the wins and losses. We’re not going to judge our success on if we win or lose.
“We just want to be prepared for the postseason.”
The 6-foot McGinley, meanwhile, is drawing interest from Augustana, Rockford, St. Francis and DuPage.
But there’s also plenty of unfinished business in trying to keep this dominant season going for as long as he can.
“Last year, we were pretty good as juniors and we have some time under our belt on the varsity,” McGinley said. “I like that these guys are stepping up and filling the roles, and we’re rolling.
“We’re 20-0 and undefeated, but we’re not perfect. We have a lot of work to do.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.