Best American Comics News bestamericancomics.com started its broadcasting life on December 21, 2022 and aims to offer original content to users. Aiming to share information in technology, science, education and other fields, bestamericancomics.com aims to provide its readers with the most up-to-date and comprehensive. Since the content of the site is created by expert writers, readers are reliable and accurate referrers.
[ad_1]
Aurora Christian sophomore Asa Johnson He is used to having the ball in his hands.
As a backup quarterback and starting pitcher, he is also accustomed to having time and space.
The 1.80-meter forward scored only one basket on Friday, but it had great symbolic significance.
“They were playing me, so it occurred to me that I needed to step up the intensity and get us on our feet,” Johnson said. “I looked for the ball and got it done, which allowed our team to move forward.”
Johnson’s 3-pointer in the second quarter sparked a dominant 22-7 spurt and the Eagles defeated Serena 61-52 in the Class 1A Harvest Christian Regional championship game.
This is the first sectional title since 2020 for Aurora Christian (24-8), which plays against Pecatonica (31-5), which beat Lanark Eastland 60-50 in the NIU Supersectional on Monday at 6 p.m.
Johnson, one of four sophomore starters, looked the part with five rebounds, one assist and one steal. sophomore guard Marshawn Cocroft Scored 29 points and senior forward Cameron Morel There were 18 of them.
Cocroft scored 14 points in the second quarter and the Eagles took a 31-20 lead at halftime. But Johnson’s value and contribution to the win was as subtle as the power in the middle.
“Asa is also an unknown player,” Aurora Christian coach said And Beebe aforementioned. “He does a lot of little things to help us win games.
“We now have 24 wins and for that to happen you need to have players like Asa in your team.”
Cocroft and his sophomore guards jalen carter And Jacob BaumannThe team that collected seven points on Friday night all played for the team last winter.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s play has improved since the start of the season. He has a thick body, soft hands and excellent playing sense; When he gets into the action, he displays sharp mastery.
His lack of interior size increased his playing time, and Carter was the first to point out that Johnson was a deceptively good shooter from long range.
“He’s actually one of our top three-point shooters, percentage-wise,” Carter said of Johnson. “He brings a lot of energy to our team. When he gets going, he does things very quickly. He’s very active out there.”
According to Cocroft, Johnson’s soft exterior touch carries an element of surprise.
“The staff is a big part of our offense,” Cocroft said. “Teams don’t realize he can shoot, but he can. When they left him open like that, I knew the shot was going to go in. After that, we continued on our way.”
Johnson, who was one of Aurora Christian’s top pitchers as a freshman last season, has experience working in the spotlight.
Serena (31-4) showed her composure as she cut a 14-point lead to three in the fourth quarter.
“The great thing about Asa and all our sophomores is that they never get angry,” Beebe said.
Growing up, Johnson’s ideal mentor was his older brother Jackson, a standout athlete at Sycamore.
“My brother was always pushing me well, making sure I had the right kind of competition and toughness,” Johnson said. “He was a big part of my childhood and the reason I became competitive and interested in those types of games.”
The pandemic ended Aurora Christian’s run to the state semifinals in 2020, but Johnson is excited for the chance to take part in a new chapter with the Eagles.
“I like to play a positive game and see the guys on the bench going crazy,” he said. “It just gets the adrenaline pumping. I have to go against them and do everything I can to do my best.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
