Teams

1972-73 Aurora West High School Boy’s Team

Year Inducted: 2000

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: Aurora West High School

Biography: The 1972-73 Aurora West team beat every team it played at some point in a 30-3 finish that culminated with a third-place Class AA trophy. The fifth-ranked Blackhawks split their Upstate Eight Conference meetings with fourth-ranked Elgin and future NBA player Jeff Wilkins and prevailed 54-49 in double overtime classic state quarterfinal. New Trier East avenged a Pontiac Holiday Tournament loss 39-33 in the semifinals but Aurora West rebounded to avenge a title-game loss at Pontiac and beat Lockport Central 67-45 for third place. All-tournament pick and future Northern Illinois star Matt Hicks led the tourney in scoring at 21.3 a game and John Bryant averaged 14.6. The Blackhawks also had a powerful coaching staff with John McDougal, who would have a successful run at Northern Illinois University and Rockford Lutheran High School, and Gordon Kerkman, who led the school to a title in 2000.

Team Members in the Picture:

Back Row (L to R): Head Coach John McDougal, Tommy Neal, Rick Shaw, Mike Michels, Gary Hunley, Robert Green, Jeff Smith, Jeff Johnson, Assistant Coach Gordon Kerkman and manager Bob Mitchell.

Front Row (L to R): Bob Kamrath, Bruce Washington, Craig Hardy, Matt Hicks, John Bryant, Jeff Halling, Tom Tierney and Doug Kirhofer.