York 64, Streamwood 50

Streamwood was staying right with York early in Tuesday's nonconference boys basketball game before the well ran dry.

Streamwood junior Brian Brauer sank a 3-pointer with 3:54 to play in the opening period that pulled the Sabres within 11-9.

But York subsequently held Streamwood without a field goal for the rest of the half, during which time the Dukes pieced together the 20-1 run that powered them to a 31-10 halftime lead and, ultimately, a 64-50 victory.

York scored multiple baskets off backdoor cuts and screens, high-percentage looks that translated to the Dukes' 6-of-10 showing from the field in the second period

"Our biggest problem is that we don't communicate well on defense," Streamwood coach Tim Jones said. "It's a great group of kids, but they just don't communicate verbally with each other on the floor, which is very important to do, especially defensively.

"When you don't do that, you're going to get caught on screens, you're going to get caught on backdoor cuts. That's the thing that really bothers me is that we don't always recognize those things. We go through it with the scout, but they have to recognize those things on the floor."

York's defense was in sync, however. The Dukes (14-5) held the Sabres (3-16) to 1 point in the second quarter.

Streamwood guard Tem Esikiel, who averages 19.3 points per game, missed all 5 shots he took in the period and his team finished the quarter 0 of 11 from the field.

"We just tried to keep the ball out of his hands as much as we can and played good team defense on him," said York senior guard Rick Aleman, who guarded Esikiel most of the night.

Esikiel bounced back to score 19 of his team-high 23 points in the second half.

"Esikiel is a handful and he got into our defense a little bit in the second half," York coach Al Biancalana said, "but I thought in the first half we did a good job of containing him by making him shoot over the top of us."

Senior forward Steve Ganser led the offensive attack for York. He finished as the game's leading scorer with 24 points to go with 7 rebounds.

The Dukes also sank five 3-pointers, including 4 from senior forward Roger Coffin (14 points, 5 rebounds).

T.J. Enno scored 10 points for Streamwood and corralled 5 of his 8 rebounds in the fourth quarter when the Sabres outscored the Dukes 24-14, which forced Biancalana to leave his starters in the game to the end.

Streamwood trimmed its deficit from 22 points to 12 with a 10-0 run capped by Enno's inside basket with 2:31 to play but could pull no closer.