York reaches .500 mark by beating Elgin

The intriguing matchup of York senior Tom Roth guarding Elgin senior Tom Roth notwithstanding, Dukes versus Maroons is not one of those celebrated nonconference rivalries.

Yet there was York coach Al Biancalana coaching as intensely as he would against a Glenbard West or a Hinsdale Central.

"This represented a lot for us today," Biancalana said. "We had a chance to go .500 today after starting 1-6."

York represented indeed, surviving a season-high 29 points from Elgin center Marcus Redburg to win 62-51 on Tuesday in Elmhurst.

York (8-8) countered a quick 7-2 deficit with a 15-2 run. Elgin (6-10) was unable to find the target when it could have kept York reeling.

"We missed four layups in the first quarter, and that means we were chasing eight at the end of the first quarter, so we should have been tied. And we spent the entire game chasing eight," said Maroons coach Mike Sitter.

"I mean, they were uncontested layups, not a hand in our face. And when the other team's draining jumpers and we're missing layups it's hard to win a basketball game."

York actually led 17-12 after a quarter, but Sitter's analysis was correct. York's major separation occurred in the second quarter when Tom Judge canned a 3 and Steve Ogdon - a spark off the bench along with forward Ivy Jackson - hit three 3-pointers. Joe Santiago's late putback gave York a 31-21 halftime lead it would not relinquish.

"They were sagging off of the post, so it was basically five on four if we got everyone on the perimeter," said Ogdon, who joined teammate Evan Fendley with 11 points, behind Will Sullivan's team-high 16. "Just making the extra pass today really helped the team get open looks because of the way they were playing us."

Elgin's Tom Roth scored 5 of his 10 points and Redburg scored 13 with 6 rebounds in the fourth quarter, but down the stretch the closest the Maroons got was 56-49 with 1:06 left. After three quarters without shooting a free throw, York made 13 of 16 in the fourth, 5 of 6 by guard Kevin Kahovec.

Biancalana said York's ball movement was as good as it's been all season. That wasn't lost on Redburg, whose prior high was 23 points Saturday.

"We'd close out, they'd get by and the second guy would step up and they'd just kick it out," Redburg said. "And they shot lights-out from 3, they weren't missing anything. That didn't help."