Wrap: Neuqua presses past Sabres

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. 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.

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, who had 17 of their 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."

Girls basketball

Crystal Lake South 41, Marengo 21: At the Woodstock/Richmond tournament the Gators (9-5) defeated Marengo. Katie Burton led Crystal Lake South with 8 points. Carly Juliano and teammate Jessica Taldone each added 7 points for the Gators.

Hinckley-Big Rock 48, Hampshire 38: Despite double-digit scoring from Chrissy Heine, who finished with 12 points, Hampshire (6-6) dropped this nonconference battle to Hinckley Big Rock. Mallory Koster added 7 points for the Whips.

"I thought the girls played really hard," said Hampshire coach Sue Ellett. "We had a great effort from all the kids."

Neuqua Valley 61, Streamwood 40:ΠIn the Upstate Eight Conference the Sabres (1-10, 0-4) fell to Neuqua Valley (7-7, 2-2). Caitlyn Marchant led Streamwood with a team-high 8 points. Krissy Kunavich and Liz Liberman each contributed 6 points.

Burlington Central 56, Wauconda 39: Cory Bazany led the Rockets (10-4) to victory as she posted a game-high 27 points in this Woodstock/Richmond tournament game. Melanie Laird contributed with 13 points while teammate Jordan Maisto posted 11 points for the Rockets.

Boys basketball

Westminster Christian 87, Keith Country Day 31: Taking a 27-6 first-quarter lead, Westminster Christian (6-2) never looked back in this nonconference win. Joel Benson led the offense with 20 points while Tyler Beachler (12 points) and Ethan Flickinger (11 points) each added double-digit scoring.

Beachler reached the 900 career-point mark with his offensive tally.

Fremd 59, Schaumburg 52: Fremd was staring at a 3 point deficit with 4:43 remaining in its Mid-Suburban League West contest against Schaumburg.

The Saxons had rebounded from a 5 point halftime deficit and had seem to take control of the game.

But the Vikings had a different plan.

Fremd showed its poise down the stretch outscoring the visitors 14-4 in the final 3:13 to pull off the upset with a 59-52 victory in Palatine.

Joey DePaolis (9 points) came off the bench nailing his second 3-pointer of the night to tie the game at 48-48.

Then senior guard Dan Bruno (14 points) scored on a drive giving the Vikings a 2-point advantage with 2:48 remaining.

The game was tied at 50-50, and 52-52, when Bruno scored on another drive to give the Vikings a 54-52 lead with 1:18 remaining and Fremd would never look back.

Fremd (3-7, 2-2) converted 10 of 11 free throws in the final quarter, with senior guard Jim Mundt (15 points) going 6-for-6 from the line.

Senior Dan Itami went 4-for-4 from the line and directed the Viking attack which had only 2 turnovers in the final quarter.

Junior Cully Payne scored a game-high 17 points for the Saxons including a pair with 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and George Kalousek added a pair of free throws giving the Schaumburg a 41-36 advantage entering the final quarter.

But the Saxons 'defense failed to finish the finish the deal.

"Right now we're a soft basketball team," said Schaumburg coach Bob Williams. "Fremd played more focused than we did and tougher."

"We did a nice job of keeping our composure and keeping our focus especially after being down," said Fremd coach Bob Widlowksi of his team that snapped a 3 game losing streak. "We had execution and effort tonight."

"This is huge," added Bruno, who scored 7 points in the final quarter. "Everyone picked up their game tonight."

Especially sophomore Chris Klimek, the 6-foot-4 sophomore scored 13 points and pulled down a game high 14 rebounds including two in the final minute that helped seal the victory.

Schaumburg (8-3, 2-2) didn't seem ready to go until midway through the third period when the its defense ignited a 9-2 run with Sean Everitt capping the run with a 3-pointer giving the Saxons a 37-35 lead.