Lincoln-Way East’s Aaron Stauffacher measures everything by degrees or matter of separation.
Given any kind of opening, the 6-foot-4 junior forward uses the range and depth on his outside shot to change the calculus.
“With my size and length, I always get just a little bit of confidence whenever I see just a little bit of daylight,” he said. “I’m like a butterfly. If I see light and space, I just take flight.”
Stauffacher was flying high from beyond the arc Tuesday night.
He matched a career high with five 3-pointers in scoring 19 points to power the host Griffins to a 68-59 SouthWest Suburban Conference victory over Sandburg in Frankfort.
Senior guard Jaymon Hornsby scored seven of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as Lincoln-Way East (8-10, 3-4) closed the game with an 18-6 run.
Senior forward Will Johnson led Sandburg (11-8, 4-4) by scoring 24 points to go with eight rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
Stauffacher, meanwhile, added six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Junior forward KaiJay Brown, who had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Griffins, praised Stauffacher’s effort.
“His rebounding, offensively and defensively, is so big for us,” Brown said. “I trust him all the time out there. Our coach told us to spray the ball to him and they’d collapse on him.
“That opened everything else up.”
Lincoln-Way East coach Luke Yaklich confirmed that Stauffacher’s shooting was the result of careful planning.
“Aaron is very diligent,” Yaklich said. “He came in at 6 this morning, shot for an hour and also after school. Everything he caught was in rhythm and he also released everything in rhythm.
“We were able to get to the rim because of the threes he made.”
Stauffacher hit all five 3-pointers in the first half, staking the Griffins to a 36-27 halftime lead.
It’s a skill he has developed.
“I wasn’t always a great shooter,” Stauffacher said. “I’ve spent a lot of time over the summer putting in the work, just trying to develop my shots.
“The shooting helps create not just for me but the whole team. It spreads their defense out, and our point guards get downhill and open the entire floor.”
Last season, Stauffacher was elevated to varsity during the final stages of his sophomore year. He has found his groove, seeing where he could impact winning.
“That time on the varsity last season just helped me develop my skills,” he said. “I know what I need to do and bring some energy to the team.”
His role has vacillated from being a starter or an offensive catalyst off the bench, but his attitude never wavers. He’s the oldest of three kids, with basketball being the connective thread.
“My dad was the manager of the men’s basketball team at the University of Wisconsin and my mom played in high school,” Stauffacher said. “I’ve played the game since a young age.
“I’ve always loved it. You can be your own person, put your own stamp on the game.”
Yaklich, who’s back on the high school level after being the head coach at Illinois-Chicago, realized right away what he had in Stauffacher the first time at an open gym in April.
“I vividly remember meeting Aaron and I asked who the blonde kid was,” Yaklich said. ”He’s a dirty-work kid, and by that I mean he’s going to get a rebound, take a charge or get a deflection.
“He does all of the things that are in the margins.”
Stauffacher understands that those little things matter.
“Getting along with everyone helps team bonding,” he said. “Guys aren’t going to get mad if you try to coach them. I keep to myself, but when I’m feeling myself, I’ll be a little bit more outgoing.
“Everybody knows I want what’s best for them.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.