Another big test for West rivals

This is one of those dates on a schedule you circle and save. One that more than 3,000 fans in Schaumburg's gym tonight will have waited for and anticipated for months.

One between two of the top boys basketball programs in the area when Hoffman Estates (18-6, 7-2) visits Schaumburg (19-5, 6-3) at 7:30 p.m.

At stake is the right to represent the West Division in the Mid-Suburban League title game Wednesday at Prospect.

"Big, big game," said Hoffman senior Tom Dombrowski after last Friday's 42-33 win in another big one with two-time defending MSL champion Conant.

"(Last week) was the semifinals of the conference tournament," said Schaumburg coach Bob Williams last Saturday. "Now it's the finals."

And what a way to end it between two programs who have put on quite a few really big shows since Williams and Hoffman coach Bill Wandro took over in 1991.

The only disappointment is Williams said Schaumburg star Cully Payne still had not received results of an MRI taken Wednesday on his injured back. Payne was hoping to get cleared to return to the court after missing eight games and not practicing the last month.

So it doesn't appear Payne will make any dramatic return as Williams said late Thursday night "he's definitely out." Williams hopes to get Payne back next week.

"I hope Cully's back because I love playing good teams and good competitors," said Hoffman senior standout Luke Mead last Friday.

"If not, we have to focus on the fundamentals."

That's what Schaumburg did in the first meeting - a 61-51 victory where more than 3,000 showed up at Hoffman even though temperatures outside were close to 20 below zero and it was a Thursday night.

And fundamentals put the Saxons back on track with a four-game winning streak after losing three in a row. They also have 6-foot-5 Blake Mueller back after missing the first 21 games because of a torn ACL and Perrish Bell isn't hampered by back trouble.

"We have good team chemistry going right now," said Schaumburg senior guard Chris Kelly.

"Everyone is sharing points and swinging the ball around the perimeter."

Hoffman is also sharing the wealth better in a three-game winning streak after Mead and senior Chris Hall scored all but 4 points in a 54-40 loss at Barrington.

"We need to focus more on the team game instead of the individual game," said Mead of the first meeting where he scored 19 points but was 4-for-21 from the field and 2-for-13 on 3-pointers. "I know I forced up a lot of shots."

Now it comes down to who can deliver its best shot. Hoffman already has a share of the West title, but a Schaumburg would claim the title-game tiebreaker with a win and season sweep.

"We have to show our 'A' game," Dombrowski said. "We have to play a full game because that's what's going to win it."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com