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Luis Umana, East Aurora’s only senior starter, knows challenge ahead for his team. ‘We have to play a full game.’

December 18, 2024

Luis Umana, the lone senior starter for East Aurora, understands it’s a conundrum.

Listed as a 6-foot-2 guard/forward on the roster, Umana is caught in the middle in some respects.

“Sometimes I fail, but I try to provide leadership on the court,” Umana said. “I try to do as much as I can. We’ve had a rough start, but we’re trying to bounce back and bring the whole team together.

“Get on the same page to, hopefully, get it going.”

At times, that’s also easier said than done. Such was the case Tuesday night as visiting Bartlett had all five starters score in double figures during a 72-54 Upstate Eight West decision.

Colin Taylor, a 6-4 senior guard, scored 16 points to lead the Hawks (3-7, 3-1).

Jaiyon Spivey, an athletic 6-5 senior forward in his first year on varsity, came off the bench to match those 16 points in pacing the Tomcats (1-10, 1-2).

“He can shoot the thing pretty good,” East Aurora coach Rick Robinson said of Spivey.

East Aurora’s Luis Umana (24) pressures Bartlett’s Daniel Jasso during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 in Aurora. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

But what gives with the struggling Tomcats?

It seems like blasphemy to sit in Ernie Kivisto Gymnasium and think it, much less say it out loud given the program’s rich tradition at the position, but the guards are struggling.

“That’s been our nemesis all year long, my guard play,” Robinson said. “They’re young.”

His backcourt starters are 5-10 sophomore Bryson Chandler, who played on varsity last season, and 6-0 junior Yurem Horta, who was with the sophomore team.

“They’re getting adjusted to me,” Robinson said.

Neither are true point guards and neither is Umana, who does have playmaking ability. He’s also a demon on the boards, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds Tuesday to go with six points.

Horta added seven points and three steals, while Chandler contributed six points.

East Aurora’s Luis Umana (24) comes down with a rebound against Bartlett during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 in Aurora. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

The team’s strength is its front line, with good height but not big bodies. The group can struggle to finish at the rim, especially against physical teams like Bartlett, which also has good height.

Joining Umana in the frontcourt are a pair of juniors in 6-5 Marcus Wallace Jr. and 6-4 Davion Jackson.

Wallace battled an ailing stomach and foul trouble, scoring 12 points with four rebounds. Jackson, who contributed last season on varsity, added five points and seven rebounds.

“We’ve been working on that in practice, being more aggressive,” Umana said. “We need to focus on the shot instead of the contact and just go through the contact.

“I feel like that’s one of our main struggles, being physical back with them, but we’re trying to get back to that.”

East Aurora trailed 39-33 at halftime, but Bartlett opened the third quarter with 17 straight points.

“We were feeling good at halftime and a little hyper in the locker room,” Umana said. “And then we came out and didn’t play how we were supposed to play.

“We’ve gotta learn to come out strong in the third quarter. We have to play a full game, not just a couple of quarters.”

East Aurora’s Jaiyon Spivey (32) goes to the basket as Bartlett’s Keegan Taylor (3) defends during an Upstate Eight Conference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024 in Aurora. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

Spivey, who also had seven rebounds, stood out.

“My strength is for sure, shooting,” Spivey said. “I think I can do better as a defensive player, but I feel like I’m still good at it, too.

“It’s fun playing for the team, trying to get a win. I feel like I could pass more and get into the paint and make a few more layups”

Next up for the Tomcats is a trip across town for a 7 p.m. Friday game at West Aurora.

The Blackhawks beat Streamwood 80-40 Tuesday. The Sabres are the Tomcats’ only win, 69-31. With West Aurora (3-6, 3-1) returning to the Upstate Eight Conference, the teams will meet again at East Aurora on Feb. 7.

“I’m looking forward to my first East-West game,” Spivey said, mentioning his friendly rivalry with West Aurora’s Travis Brown. “I know Travis pretty well. We’re gonna go at it.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/18/luis-umana-east-aurora-bartlett-boys-basketball/

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