Loss doesn't deny South Elgin shot at title

Rolling Meadows had all the right answers on Wednesday night at Fenton's Chuck Mitchell Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Mustangs came back from a 10-point first quarter deficit, the defense made amends after a tough loss to Naperville Central on Tuesday, and junior Paul Volkman had the right call at the end.

South Elgin took a 1-point advantage with 6 seconds remaining on a floater by Tommy Childs, but Rolling Meadows went the length of the court and Volkman's lay in at the buzzer lifted the Mustangs to a thrilling 43-42 victory in Bensenville.

Sophomore guard Brian Nelms took the ball with time winding down and found Volkman for the game-winner.

"We've been teaching that all year, to run the floor," said Meadows coach Kevin Katovich of the final play. "Tonight it paid off with a game-winning shot."

Despite the loss South Elgin (2-1) advances to Friday's title game against Libertyville at 7:15 p.m. Rolling Meadows (2-1) will meet Lake Park in the fifth-place game at 3:45 p.m.

Senior Richie Kemph continued his torrid start by scoring 7 of his game-high 18 points in the final quarter.

"That's what they expect out of me," said Kemph, who scored 36 points and 35 points in the Mustangs' first two games. "But it was a team effort tonight and the younger guys really stepped up."

South Elgin jumped out to a 12-2 advantage in the opening quarter with the Storm connecting on four 3-pointers including two by junior Sam Sutter (9 points).

But Rolling Meadows' matchup zone stalled South Elgin's attack and the Mustangs only trailed 20-19 at halftime.

"We kept settling for the 3 and not driving," said South Elgin coach Chaz Taft of the Mustangs' comeback. "We talked at halftime that we needed guys to drive the gaps."

Volkman added a buzzer shot at the end of the third quarter helping Meadows knot the score at 31-31.

Kemph's 2 free throws with 5:37 remaining gave Meadows a 36-33 advantage, but freshman Jacob Maestranzi hit a 3-pointer with 4 minutes remaining to tie the score at 38-38.

Meadows was clinging to a 41-40 lead with under 10 seconds remaining but Childs' shot appeared to give the Storm the victory.

"That shot means nothing if you don't win the game," added Childs, "We needed to get back in transition defense."