Neuqua Valley 74, Streamwood 48

Opposing coaches scouting Neuqua Valley usually don't highlight "fullcourt pressure" in their report.

Maybe that will change after Friday.

The Wildcats unveiled a 1-2-2 zone pressure defense in the third quarter of their boys basketball game in Streamwood. What was just a 7-point game at halftime turned into a 74-48 Neuqua Valley rout over its Upstate Eight Conference opponent.

Neuqua Valley (8-2, 4-0) forced 9 Streamwood turnovers in the third quarter as the Wildcats outscored the Sabres 30-16.

"We traditionally don't do it (pressure)," Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton said, "but we needed to do something different. We were getting out-played in the first half. It worked tonight. Who knows if it will work again."

Derek Raridon got the third quarter started with a jumper, and Anton Wilkins scored off a turnover. T.J. Jordan's steal and score made it 42-31 with 4:16 left. Brad Keeler added to the feeding frenzy with two scores, including a reverse layup, off turnovers.

Raridon, who had 12 of his 14 points in the quarter, put a cherry on the 30-point outburst with back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute.

"Coach got after us at halftime. He said we had to step up our defensive intensity," Raridon said. "He let us press there, and we got up and got some tips and steals."

Streamwood (3-7, 0-4) led 16-15 after the first quarter, as Tem Esikiel went off for 10 of his game-high 20 points. But Esikiel went to the bench with his second foul a minute into the second quarter.

Neuqua Valley crawled ahead, taking the lead for good 21-18 on the second of Dan Pawelski's 3-pointers. Pawelski, who led the Wildcats with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, later dunked in an alley-oop.

"He had to carry us there in the first half because no one else was making shots," Sutton said. "His buddies joined him in the second half."

T.J. Enno added 14 points and 9 rebounds and Kyle Holder 10 points for Streamwood, which had 17 of its 26 turnovers in the second half.

"We have to learn to play four quarters of basketball in order to get over the hump," Sabres coach Tim Jones said. "That pressure shouldn't have bothered us."

Jordan scored 8 points, and Wilkins and Keeler 7 apiece for Neuqua Valley, which gets four days off before opening play at the Elgin Holiday Tournament on Wednesday morning against Waukegan and University of Illinois recruit Jereme Richmond.

"It's a loaded tournament, and it should be a lot of fun," Sutton said. "It definitely should make us better."