Hawks want to show they're contenders
Upstate Eight Conference contender or pretender?
The Bartlett boys basketball team will find out what it is made of tonight when the Hawks travel to Neuqua Valley for a meeting between second-place teams in the UEC.
Surging Bartlett (12-5, 4-1) has won 10 of its last 12 games.
Neuqua Valley (11-5, 4-1) enters the game on the heels of consecutive heartbreaking losses against Downers Grove South (63-60) and league-leading Waubonsie Valley (61-59).
Earning a victory in a challenging environment in Naperville against the Wildcats, who won outright UEC titles in 2001-02 and 2004-05 and shared the title with Larkin and Lake Park in 2005-06, would keep the Hawks within a game of Waubonsie in the loss column with 4 to play.
"A lot of people in the conference will tell you that Neuqua Valley has been the standard-bearer of success in this league since their origination," Hawks coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "Beating a team of that level and a coach the level of Todd Sutton would be a big step because they are one of the best teams in our conference, if not the best team.
"It's challenges like this that we face in life that help define our character. We've played several good teams this year and we've had some success and some failures. I hope the way we play at Neuqua Valley further defines the character of our team."
The matchups are intriguing.
Bartlett 6-foot-9 center Kamil Janton (13.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg.) will go head-to-head against 6-8 Neuqua Valley center Dan Pawelski (13.1 ppg., 7.6 rpg).
A pair of 6-5 forwards will square off in Neuqua junior Derek Raridon (12.8 ppg.) and Bartlett senior Cory Hrynyk (13.8 ppg.)
And 6-1 senior guard Anton Wilkins (9.2 ppg.) will be challenged by Bartlett sophomore guard Luke Labedzki (13.3 ppg.).
If the aforementioned matchups cancel each other out, x-factors like Neuqua defensive whiz T.J. Jordan (7.0 ppg.) or Bartlett point guard Marc Little (8.9 ppg.) could play a deciding role.
Neuqua Valley's coach is well aware of the Hawks' many weapons.
"I think it's the best Bartlett team they've ever had," Sutton said. "They are absolutely loaded. I love their big guys. And they go fast. I watched them against East Aurora. They get shots off so quick.
"This game is for second place. The loser is really going to be down in the dumps."
St. Charles East at Elgin:ŒAll five Elgin starters played in last year's season-ending loss at St. Charles East, a game in which Elgin guard Armani Williams left with a knee injury in the first quarter.
The Saints went on to defeat the Maroons 66-60 in overtime for the regional title.
Elgin (10-7, 3-1), which has won three straight, can stay within one game in the loss column of league-leading Waubonsie Valley if it can pull off the victory against Collin Pryor (17.8 ppg.) and the Saints (6-9, 2-2), who snapped a three game losing streak last weekend with a 57-51 win at Glenbard West.
"Pryor is their go-to guy," said Elgin coach Mike Sitter. "We have to step up and shut him down."
Sitter said he will try to nullify Pryor's quickness by having forward Kenny Williams guard him. "If Kenny can limit Pryor's touches it gives us a chance to win," Sitter said.
Around the UEC:ŒSouth Elgin (8-9, 2-3) will host East Aurora (10-7, 1-3) as it attempts to get back to the .500 mark.
"They're young, athletic and quick," Storm coach Chaz Taft said of the Tomcats. "We have to get back on defense and not let them get transition baskets, bring our pressure defense and block out for rebounds."
Larkin (1-14, 0-4) hosts St. Charles North (9-9, 3-2) tonight and East Aurora on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Royals are led by forwards Cam Kinley (8.9 ppg.) and Deonte McFadden (7 ppg.)
Waubonsie Valley plays tonight at Lake Park (4-12, 1-4)
Streamwood (5-11, 0-4) is idle this weekend.