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When Kevin O'Rourke went to a banquet two weeks ago at Notre Dame, he did so on the behalf of Cory Monesmith.
Monesmith played basketball under O'Rourke at Triton High School. The 6-foot-1 senior scored more than 20 points per game and earned a roster spot in Thursday's Sunburst Classic All-Star game.
The banquet was like any other banquet. The evening was nice, but O'Rourke's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"I was sitting there thinking I was just ready to go home," O'Rourke said. "It had been a long night. I had a big dinner. I have a new child at home.
"I need to get home, I was thinking."
Somebody read off the names of the all-stars.
O'Rourke's mind wandered some more.
Then two words shot it back into focus.
Kevin O'Rourke.
He heard his own name. Why? The same coaches that selected the Sunburst Classic players tabbed the 31-year-old O'Rourke as the Area Coach of the Year.
"It was actually pretty funny," O'Rourke said. "The only reason I was there was for Cory.
"I didn't expect it. As far as receiving recognition from my peers, this was a first. It's nice."
O'Rourke will coach the All-Area team at the classic. The All-Area team faces the All-Metro team, comprised of South Bend players. The All-Area team is comprised of 11 players from 60 schools outside of South Bend.
The game will be held at Notre Dame at the Joyce Center and will start at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the gate.
Another local player will join Monesmith on the All-Area team, Warsaw's Tom Krizmanich. Krizmanich, a 6-4 senior, tallied more than 20 points and 7 rebounds per game this year for the 19-5 Tigers.
Triton went 16-6 under O'Rourke this season, the Trojans' best record in years. They went 7-0 to win their first Northern State Conference title since 1991.
When O'Rourke took over two years ago, his team started out 0-5. Triton has gone 27-12 since that time.
"This means we had a good season, I guess," O'Rourke said. "Whether you're a player or a coach, the individual recognition is a result of team success.
"If you're 6-16, you're not considered."
Penn head coach Pete Smith, who coached at Manchester and Warsaw, will lead the All-Metro team.
O'Rourke and his players practiced at the Joyce Center on Monday. He needed only this practice to see what kind of team he has.
It's full of small forwards. He has athletic players who can shoot.
O'Rourke also peeked in on Smith's practice. That was all he needed to see what kind of team Smith has.
It's full of guards. One stands out, 6-2 Cedric Moodie, a Mr. Basketball candidate from South Bend Washington.
"I think we have a size and strength advantage," O'Rourke said. "They have a quickness advantage. We don't have a true point guard.
"I'm sure this will turn into a track meet. I hope we can match their quickness somehow."
O'Rourke is a competitive man who, yes, has a fire in his belly. After a loss earlier this season, an angry O'Rourke announced: "The only thing I learn from a loss is I hate losing."
What about this game, Coach?
"It's for fun," he said. "The kids will go out there and have a good time.
"Besides, when you have only one practice, you can't put anything in that has any lasting value."
Three Local Girls Make All-Area Team
A girls all-star game will be played at 6 p.m. at the Joyce Center on Thursday. Three local girls made the All-Area team, including Wawasee senior Carly Beer, Triton senior Rachael Yeiter and Warsaw junior Tiffany Ross.
Beer and Yeiter are guards. Ross is a forward, but she cannot play. Underclassmen may be named to the all-star teams, but only seniors may play.
Beer averaged 13.9 points, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game. She made more than 40 percent of her three-point attempts. Yeiter averaged 13.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Ross tallied 14.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
NorthWood's Steve Neff, who guided the Panthers to the state finals with a 25-1 record, will coach the All-Area girls team for the second year in a row.
