Boys Basketball: East Aurora, West Aurora meet again

Updated: December 12, 2011 6:54PM

Tickets for the East-West basketball tripleheader this Saturday at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center will be available this week at both schools and on the day of the game in DeKalb.

It will be the 215th meeting between the East and West boys varsity basketball teams when they headline the event, tipping off at about 8 p.m. It starts with the fresh-soph boys game at 5 p.m. followed by the girls varsity game at 6:30 p.m.

The teams met at Northern in 2009 when West hosted the game.

“I think it was very successful last time,” said West Aurora athletic director Andy Lutzenkirchen. “Rough estimate, we had between 5,000 and 5,700 with participants in the building. That’s double what we can put in our gym.”

East, which holds significantly more in its gym, held the game at home last season and will likely continue to do so.

“I think as long as the East-West rivalry remains as strong as it is, we will continue to hold it at Northern,” Lutzenkirchen said. “For us, it’s more of a facility issue. It allows us to accommodate all our students who wish to attend, plus having the college atmosphere is nice. It’s something a lot of kids won’t get to experience otherwise.”

East Aurora season ticket holders may purchase tickets to the game Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Field House lobby at the high school. General admission tickets will then be available for purchase by the public from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for students.

West has already distributed tickets to its season ticket holders but will hold general admission sales from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the school’s ticket office outside the gym.

Tickets will also be available the day of the game at the Convocation Center, which can hold 9,000-plus.

True basketball fanatics can make a day of it, since the Northern Illinois men will play host to Southern Illinois at 1 p.m.

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