Elgin wins 2nd straight
The Bison Classic Thanksgiving boys basketball tournament didn't start out so well for Elgin, with losses to quality area programs Stevenson and the hosts.
But things turned around.
The Maroons walked away from Buffalo Grove Saturday night with a 2-2 overall record after trouncing start-up UC-Woodlawn 73-28, but that's what the experienced Maroons were supposed to do to the first-year program.
"In all fairness, they're a first-year program," said Elgin assistant coach Jeff Howard, pinch-hitting for Mike Sitter, who was attending a wedding. "I thought we did a pretty good job executing," especially in the second half, when the Maroons figured out the Torches' 2-3 zone after facing nothing but man-to-man from BG and Stevenson.
Starting a makeshift lineup and going with an equally makeshift rotation, Howard's troops got stronger and better as the game progressed. They pulled away to a 33-13 halftime lead after sophomore Kory Brown (12 points) and junior Brandon Baymon (game-high 13) came off the bench and combined for 11 second-quarter points and asserted themselves on the boards and on the floor. UC-Woodlawn committed 14 first-half turnovers.
Jordan Dean had 10 points, Dennis Moore added 9 and Tim Newcombe 8 for the Maroons.
"Everybody that stepped on the floor tonight contributed," said Howard, as all 11 Maroons who played did score. And for Howard, that's important.
"We've got to get ready for a big weekend against Larkin and St. Charles North," in conference play next week, he noted.