Maroons keeping positive attitude
The attitude around Chesbrough Field House remains upbeat despite six losses in seven outings by the Elgin Maroons.
"I'm actually not that down," coach Mike Sitter said Thursday. "(Assistant coach) Jeff Howard and I were talking about it this morning. We're pretty pleased with some of the things that are going on.
"We only dressed 11 for that Christmas tournament. Now we're getting a few more bodies back."
The Maroons (6-7) return to action Saturday night against DeKalb (6-8) at the Rock Falls Shootout, where center D'Angelo Stewart could see limited action for the first time since he sprained his ankle against Batavia in the second game of the Elgin Tournament.
Point guard Jeremy Granger, who was pained throughout the Elgin Tournament by a hyperextended elbow that limited his range, shot better from long distance in practice this week, according to Sitter.
Granger suffered the injury in the waning moments of a Dec. 15 home loss to Schaumburg.
From this point forward, look for Elgin to concentrate on its strength: the fast break.
"We're really going to try to open it up a little bit offensively," Sitter said. "We've been too stagnant."
DeKalb (6-8) hosts Rochelle tonight. Rochelle edged the Barbs 62-57 in overtime Saturday for third place at the DeKalb Chuck Dayton Holiday Tournament. DeKalb lost its previous game in double overtime to Senn.
Point guard John Umoren, who missed Saturday's game with an injury, is expected to return to the DeKalb lineup tonight.
Huntley at Crystal Lake South:ŒConsidering Huntley graduated talented all-area post players Corey Mader and Anthony Jaggers, coach Marty Manning can't complain about the Red Raiders' 10-4 mark this season.
"I'm happy with our record," Manning said. "I think we've played some tougher competition the last three or four games and the guys really hung in there well.
"There were some defensive breakdowns, but during tournament time you don't have time to practice and work on those things because you have games every day. But we'll get it straightened out."
The Red Raiders will try to earn a win tonight at Gator Alley against Crystal Lake South (7-5), which bounced back from the beating it took against St. Charles North to beat Cary-Grove in the third-place game of the Jacobs Tournament.
Bartlett at Fenton:ŒBartlett (10-4), which finished 4-1 at Jacobs, losing only to the host school by 3 points, takes on the Bison (5-8) in Bensenville at 7 p.m.
This game is a reunion of sorts for Bartlett guard/forward Cory Hrynyk, a third-year varsity player, and Fenton guard/forward Gozie Umeadi, a fourth-year varsity player.
Hrynyk and Umeadi play AAU basketball together for the Rising Stars.
"He's a very nice ballplayer," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said of Umeadi, who averaged 16.5 points per game as a junior. "He can play the post, he handles, he drives. He's a big, physical, talented ballplayer who draws fouls and gets to the line.
"They have a couple of other studs who go 6-4 and 6-5. We're bigger, but they are long and they shoot the ball fairly well."
Other matchups:: The only game tonight involving an area team besides Bartlett pits St. Edward (6-8) at Montini (6-7) in Suburban Catholic Conference play.
Saturday's slate includes St. Edward at St. Francis (8-4), Vernon Hills (7-6) at South Elgin (7-8), Kaneland (6-8) at Burlington Central (8-4), Hampshire (5-8) at Marengo (2-10), Prairie Ridge (2-13) at Woodstock (5-9), Crystal Lake Central (7-6) at Jacobs (12-1), Grayslake North (3-8) at Dundee-Crown (5-6), Johnsburg (7-6) at Cary-Grove (8-5) and Westminster Christian (9-4) at Elgin Academy (2-10).