Neuqua Valley a tough test for Chargers
Dundee-Crown boys basketball coach Lance Huber didn't hide his admiration for coach Todd Sutton's Neuqua Valley squad as he reviewed film of the Wildcats on Monday.
"They're like a college team," Huber said of D-C's opponent in Tuesday's Class 4A DeKalb supersectional at Northern Illinois University at 8 p.m.
"They run a lot of good stuff and they run it well and flow into it," Huber added. "That's definitely impressive. And they play a ton of guys, so they have a lot of depth. If one guy's off, Todd doesn't hesitate to put somebody else in. They probably go 10-12 deep.
"I'd probably say the best thing about them is they get out and play you defensively. They get a lot of credit for what they do offensively, but defensively they are solid as can be."
Neuqua Valley (31-1), champion of the Upstate Eight Conference, has been defeated only once this season - a 74-70 setback in overtime at East Aurora on Dec. 20. What's most amazing is that the Wildcats have achieved their stellar record against one of the best schedules in the state.
Neuqua Valley defeated three teams that reached the Sweet 16 in Class 4A: St. Charles North, Quincy and Naperville Central. The Wildcats defeated eight more schools that won regional titles: Morton, Bolingbrook, Glenbrook South, Normal, Downers Grove South, Zion-Benton, and Plainfield North.
Dundee-Crown (23-5), the undefeated champion of the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference, hasn't faced competition nearly as stiff. Prior to beating McHenry and St. Charles North at the Elgin sectional, the Chargers played only one school that won a regional title - Grayslake Central, which won a Class 3A regional - and the Chargers lost that game 62-53 on Jan. 17.
"I definitely think that we're the underdog," Huber said. "We're going to have to play well. But it's a good problem to have to be playing good teams. You're not going to make it too far in the tournament without playing good teams and (Neuqua Valley), I think, is exceptional.
"We'll see what happens (tonight). Hopefully, we'll be able to make a game out of it."
If the Chargers pull the upset, they'll become the first Fox Valley Conference team to go downstate in boys basketball. Current FVC member Johnsburg qualified for the Elite Eight in 2003, when the Skyhawks played in the Big Northern Conference.
Beyond conference pride, another win would raise the profile of D-C's basketball program. which has won 3 regionals in the last six seasons under Huber.
"We've always been known as a wrestling school or a baseball school, so winning a sectional helps our credibility," senior guard Greg McNally said after D-C's 51-49 victory over St. Charles North on Friday. "Now, with a sectional championship, it helps because there's that stigma of the Fox Valley. But we can compete with any conference. Our squad right now has confidence and we think we can match up with any school."
Tuesday night's probable starters
Dundee-Crown (23-5)
Jeff Beck Sr. 6-1 G
Justin Strzelczyk Sr. 5-11 G
Charles Kimbrough Sr. 6-6 C
Aaron Reams Sr. 6-4 F
Marcus Henry Sr. 6-0 G-F
Neuqua Valley (31-1)
Nolan Brown Sr. 6-0 G
Rahjan Muhammad Jr. 6-0 G
Kareem Amedu Jr. 6-5 C
Derek Raridon Sr. 6-6 F
Dwayne Evans Jr. 6-5 G-F
8 p.m. Tuesday at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=279462">Getting the lowdown on Dundee-Crown <span class="date"> [3/16/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=279463">Getting the lowdown on Neuqua Valley <span class="date"> [3/16/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>