Siwicki steps up for Elk Grove vs. Meadows

A big night from an unlikely source helped propel Elk Grove to a 52-47 victory over visiting Rolling Meadows on Friday night in Mid Suburban East boys basketball action.

Grenadiers junior center Scott Siwicki scored a game-high 23 points, 10 in the second quarter, when Elk Grove outscored the Mustangs 19-10.

"We've been waiting for this from Siwicki for a while," said Elk Grove coach Anthony Furman. "He can post up, but he can also shoot from the perimeter. And he has a real good basketball IQ."

The 6-foot-6 Siwicki nailed three 3-pointers. But it wasn't just Siwicki who was responsible for the Elk Grove (7-15, 2-6) victory, which is what Siwicki talked about afterward.

"One man doesn't make a team," he said. "It takes five guys putting out effort every night. And we got it done at the defensive end."

Siwicki was a bit surprised by how many points he scored.

"I wasn't aware I had that many points at the end of the game," Siwicki said. "I'm just glad we got it done."

Rolling Meadows (9-12, 4-4) made things a bit uneasy for Elk Grove in the closing minutes of the game.

The Mustangs trailed by 9 points with 3:12 to go, but after baskets and free throws from Dan Wenzel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Ted Metzger, the game was tied at 47-47 with 1:17 left.

The Grens were able to hold the Mustangs off thanks in part to Robert Hult, whom Furman tabbed as an unsung hero.

Hult made a layup to put Elk Grove ahead 50-47 with less than a minute left. A pair of Siwicki free throws finished off the scoring.

"We made so many mental mistakes that we didn't give ourselves a chance," said Mustangs coach Kevin Katovich. "Running good offense, being unselfish, playing team basketball, we just didn't have that tonight."

The Grens' Donny Duschinsky added 14 points.

Richie Kemph led the Mustangs with 15 points.