Boys basketball: Kenneth Cooley, East Aurora lose to benet

East Aurora's Kenneth Cooley (4) directs his teammates against Benet during a game at the 64th annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Charles East on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (H. Rick Bamman/The Beacon-News)

What’s next for East Aurora senior Kenneth Cooley ?

He will have a tough time matching his exploits on the football field — the accolades are still pouring in — but he’s back to give it a go for the Tomcats, this time on the basketball court.

According to Jalen Bealer , Cooley’s backcourt mate, the tools are obvious.

“Ken, he has everything,” Bealer said in amazement. “He has defense. He can get a rebound. He can score the ball. He’s so athletic. He has a lot of stuff going for him.”

While true, even the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Cooley didn’t have enough Tuesday against powerhouse Benet on the second night of the 64th annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Charles East.

The Redwings, coming off a Class 4A state runner-up finish last season, capitalized on a staggering height advantage and rolled to a 84-55 victory in the round-robin event.

Benet (2-0) was fueled by a 41-22 rebounding edge, something that has been a bugaboo for East Aurora (0-2).

“We’ve always been small,” Cooley said. “We have to come out and play the game with speed and aggression and ready to box out. That was our game plan, but we didn’t capitalize.”

East Aurora's Kenneth Cooley (4) breaks through against Benet's Jason Garcia (11), Ewola Moukoulou (20) and Brett Nolan (12) during a game at the 64th annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Charles East on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (H. Rick Bamman/The Beacon-News)

Bealer, a 6-1 senior, landed 15 points to lead East Aurora in scoring for the second game in a row. He had 27 the previous night in a 76-69 loss to the host Saints.

Limited to 19 minutes due to foul trouble, Cooley scored 14 points Tuesday after putting up 18 in the opener.

“I would just like to see Kenneth and Jalen get out a little more so that we can advance the ball to them and see them do more attacking,” East Aurora coach Rick Robinson said.

Gabriel Sularski , a 6-6 sophomore who had 10 Division I scholarship offers that included five Big Ten schools before he made his varsity debut Monday, scored 18 points to lead Benet (2-0).

Joining Sularski in the Redwings’ starting lineup were 6-7 Parker Sulaver and 6-8 Daniel Pauliukonis . Colin Stack , a 7-footer, and five more reserves who are 6-4 or taller, stand in reserve.

East Aurora has one player who is 6-3 and three listed at 6-2.

East Aurora coach Rick Robinson calls a play with Jalen Bealer (5) during a game at the 64th annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Charles East on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (H. Rick Bamman/The Beacon-News)

“The only way we were going to have a chance was with our ability to be faster than them and to be quicker getting the ball down the court to create an advantage for ourselves,” Robinson said. “When we did do that, our guys were able to get to the basket.

“But the reality of it was, well, look at the rebounds. They’re big kids and they just reload.”

Cooley, who Robinson appropriately dubs “Mr. Touchdown,” put up 1,696 all-purpose yards with 27 TDs in leading the Tomcats to the football playoffs for the first time in 40 years.

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He scored TDs receiving and running as well as on kick, punt and fumble returns. This week, he was named Class 8A all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, one week after being selection as the Upstate Eight Conference’s offensive player of the year.

“I really wasn’t surprised,” Cooley said. “I know with the numbers I put up, and the way I played throughout the whole season, I could get it.”

Robinson marveled at Cooley’s capabilities.

East Aurora's Kenneth Cooley (4) guards Benet's Jayden Wright (3) during a game at the 64th annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Charles East on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. (H. Rick Bamman/The Beacon-News)

“He’s a heck of an athlete,” Robinson said. “He’s fast. He’s quick. He brings that toughness that he brought to football to the basketball court.”

And Robinson is trying to look ahead.

“We need to get out into a run-and-create situation,” Robinson said. “That’s what I mean for them to do. Not get the ball at the top of the key and stop and let the defense get set.

“This (tournament) is preparation for next week without a double. We’ll be all right. We’re gonna be just fine.”