Senior guard Mia Moore does it all for East Aurora, and she does it with tempo.
The source of all of that energy is easy to find.
All anyone needs to do is watch the Tomcats practice and it’s on display.
“We do everything like it’s a game situation,” Moore said. “It all starts in practice, simulating game situations and having energy the whole time.
“We do that every minute of practice — nothing slow. We do everything fast-paced.”
That dedication shows for the Joliet St. Francis recruit. Moore is averaging 26 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Tomcats (10-2).
“Mia is an athlete, a gamer,” East Aurora coach Lee Clayborn said. “She can do it all — rebounds, scores, defends, leads us in a lot of categories.
“This year, the biggest adjustment is she became more of a leader for us. I think that’s just maturity.”
Moore said it only takes one player to start changing the mentality of the team before others follow. She doesn’t have a problem being that player.
“I like to get my teammates involved,” Moore said. “It all starts with one person. I have a lot of energy throughout the whole game. I like to play fast, aggressive.”
Clayborn said that once Moore saw her young teammates had just as much drive as she does, it made the transition to being a true leader easier.
“They had that glow about them they wanted to commit and that carried over to Mia,” Clayborn said. “She can tell they want to be here and that they’re committed.
“The core players are all gym rats. That is the biggest change from the teams before them. They really work hard and have a lot of people rooting for them and trying to help them.”
There has been plenty for fans to root for as of late.
The Tomcats are off to one of their best starts in recent memory, rattling off 10 straight wins, including a 6-0 record in the Upstate Eight Conference.
As the wins have started piling up, so has the attention the Tomcats are receiving in the building.
“Even the teachers are starting to ask about us,” Moore said. “It’s fun. All the teachers know who you are and they’re even showing up to games.
“Last week, Glenbard South was 5-0 (in conference) too, and the energy we had at that game was great.”
Moore saw this transformation coming in the offseason.
“During summer league, I said we should be winning more games than last year,” Moore said. “I expected it. Our young players are stepping up and getting the job done.”
Moore started receiving attention from colleges last season and over the summer playing for both the Tomcats and Midwest Elite, her AAU team.
That resulted in Moore committing in September to St. Francis, an NAIA school.
“At an open gym, all of their players were nice,” Moore said. “(Coach John McGinty) didn’t sugarcoat anything. He told me my role, defense and my energy on the defensive side.”
Her defense has been a big key to the Tomcats’ pursuit of their first conference title in over 20 years. That quest has not been lost on Moore.
“We’re on a 10-game win streak, but I don’t even care about that,” Moore said. “We want to win conference. Once that happens, then we’ll think about other things.”
If the Tomcats achieve that goal, Moore will go down as a big reason why.
Coaching a talent like Moore isn’t lost on Clayborn.
“She’s been a gem,” Clayborn said. “It’s a true blessing to have her. She stands out. She plays to her heart and her ability.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.