Elgin, Larkin equal foes in crosstown rivalry

For the first time since 2004, neither Elgin nor Larkin can be considered a prohibitive favorite entering the cross-town game, which should translate to a close contest on the city's west side tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Larkin won 5-of-6 meetings between 2004 and 2006, when talented guard Dayvon Ellis (Eastern Kentucky) and forward Carliss Henderson powered the Royals to back-to-back regional titles, an Upstate Eight Conference championship (2004-05) and a berth in the Sweet 16.

However, Elgin has owned the rivalry since. The Maroons were more talented the last two years with star guards Armani Williams (Texas-Arlington) and Jeremy Granger (Eastern Illinois), a duo who helped Elgin reach the Class 4A Elite Eight last year, not to mention the last 6 games in this series, dating back to Jan. 31, 2006. Elgin leads the all-time series 70-38.

This year both teams enter the first of two cross-town games with 2-2 records after their respective Thanksgiving tournaments. Each is hungry to push above .500 and they're itching to play each other.

"It's what I've been waiting for since my freshman year," Elgin senior Aleks Kanlic said. "It's basically what you come here to play for - to get to play your rival. Playing at Larkin will be a tougher environment, so we have to rise up. We'll come out (tonight) ready to play."

"Elgin doesn't have the same players as last year, so that should help us a lot," Larkin guard Jeff Saurbaugh said. "But it doesn't matter who's on their roster because it's probably the best game of the year every year."

Elgin enters this game short-handed as four players remain benched with season-opening suspensions, including starters Marcus Redburg (6-foot-5) and Steve Edwards (6-5). Both are expected to see their first action of the season on Tuesday against Barrington.

The absence of those two post players should allow coach Larry Hight's height-challenged Royals to compete in the paint. However, Elgin was still able to win 2 games at the Buffalo Grove Tournament against Holy Trinity and Lakes with the same five-guard lineup they'll put on the floor tonight at Larkin. Against Holy Trinity, the Maroons won the battle of the boards 30-13.

"Our effort was outstanding at Buffalo Grove," Elgin second-year coach Mike Sitter said. "We left it all on the floor all 4 games, and that's what you want as a coach. A couple games we lost because we didn't have as much talent as the other team (Buffalo Grove, Stevenson). And we won a couple of games against teams with equal talent because we out-hustled and outperformed them. It was nice to see because it was effort - getting to loose balls, getting second and third shots, not giving up on anything. If we do that all the time, we'll be all right."

The Maroons have plugged the hole in the post temporarily with Joe Wade and Gurveer Raju. Their main focus against the Royals will be buckling down defensively.

"We have to play good D," Raju said. "Our last game against Lakes we fell apart playing defense. We have to do better because we know strong defense will lead to our offense."

Larkin's Saurbaugh can drive the lane, and the offense is at it's best when he penetrates and kicks to the wing or corner for 3-point attempts from Drew Simonini and Ryan Smith, the latter of whom took third in the state in the postseason 3-point shootout last year.

Larkin's inside scoring and rebounding comes mainly from seniors Terell John (6-3), burly Brandon Cooks (6-0) and Anthony Barracks (6-2). John scored 11 points in a 51-47 win over Woodstock despite early foul trouble, and Barracks came in and played great defense in his absence. John also scored 18 points in a 51-37 season-opening win against Round Lake.

"Our other big men like Joe and Gurveer are going to have to come in and play," Sitter said. "Larkin's a big team with John and Cooks, so we'll all have to press the boards to help Gurveer and Joe out."

The Royals, who have already doubled last year's win total, are pleased with the decent start but are by no means satisfied.

"Getting 2 wins to start off in the tournament felt pretty good," Cooks said. "We got in the locker room and talked about it and said we have to continue. We just can't settle for 2 wins because it can all go down the drain pretty quick if you let it. Even though we have more wins than last year already, we want to continue winning."