Casston Cross received a crash course in East Aurora boys basketball history when he arrived on campus from Iowa for this school year.
Once Cross saw the Tomcats’ fast-paced style of play in fall league, the junior guard quickly realized that it fit what he brings to the table.
“I like the program and I love the coaches and my teammates,” Cross said. “They just accepted me. I feel like we just clicked as soon as I came here. We’ve got a good connection.”
That connection was on display right away Monday night.
In both teams’ season opener, Cross certainly looked like a veteran for the Tomcats in a 65-58 victory over St. Charles East in the Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament hosted by the Saints.
Cross scored a game-high 18 points in his debut for East Aurora (1-0). Ryan Robinson added 12 points, while Jamir Malone and Jason Moore managed 10 points apiece. Vincent Armato and Michael Hill each scored 14 points for St. Charles East (0-1). Gavin Belli had 11.
East Aurora’s Ryan Robinson (1) gets past St. Charles East’s Vince Armato for a layup during a Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament game in St. Charles on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
When the 6-foot-3 Cross arrived at the beginning of the school year, it didn’t take East Aurora coach Rick Robinson long to know that he would fit in.
“I was very happy to have him,” Robinson said. “When I first saw him, I looked at him like, ‘He’s long. He can help us.’
“Any time you come in, if you know the history of East Aurora, we’ve always been a run-and-gun type of team. Once I told him this is how we were going to play, all of them seem to be buying in.”
The key to playing at that frenetic pace — as Cross has quickly found out — is energy. That’s something he’s more than willing to supply.
East Aurora’s Jason Moore (14) tries to get to the basket against St. Charles East during a Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament game in St. Charles on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
“When we get to playing as a whole team and our energy is up, there no way that anybody can beat us,” Cross said. “We came into this season ready to play, ready to win as a team.
“We have to prove people wrong. It’s East Aurora at the end of the day.”
The final minute of Monday’s game was emblematic of how the Tomcats want to play all the time.
St. Charles East took a 58-57 lead with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter on a jumper by Peyton Faidley. He was then fouled with 1:05 left with a chance to extend the lead.
St. Charles East’s Vincent Armato (32) blocks a shot by East Aurora’s Ryan Robinson (1) during a Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament game in St. Charles on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
But after two missed free throws, Moore quickly gave the Tomcats the lead with a layup. Two straight steals in the backcourt followed, leading to quick baskets from Robinson and Yurem Horta.
Suddenly, East Aurora held a 63-58 lead in a matter of seconds.
“That’s our motive — we want to get out and run and push the ball,” Rick Robinson said. “We want to speed them up, make them play faster than what they want to.”
St. Charles East coach Rob Klemm was encouraged when Chris Dazzo hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to close the third quarter and Armato opened the fourth with a 3-point play for a 49-46 lead.
The Saints were unable to add on, however.
“Dazzo’s shot at the end of the third quarter I thought was huge,” Klemm said. “That was a big momentum builder. We just could never pull away.
“They did a good job of making us uncomfortable. We knew that was what they wanted to do.”
East Aurora’s Casston Cross (3) drives into the defense of St. Charles East’s Michael Hill (10) during a Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament game in St. Charles on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
Cross, meanwhile, showed off the whole arsenal Monday night. He got to the rim at will and shot 10 of 16 from the free-throw line thanks to contact he drew. His long arms generated turnovers.
“He’s going to be something to reckon with,” Rick Robinson said.
Cross was just happy to get the first one out of the way and officially say he was a Tomcat.
“I was nervous definitely because it was our first game,” Cross said. “I came ready to work.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
