Neuqua runs over Dundee-Crown for Sutton's 400th
Career win No. 400 was a special moment for Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton.
After a close first quarter, the Wildcats went on a tear in the second and third periods to take a commanding lead and run away with a 68-33 win over Dundee-Crown in the Elgin Holiday Tournament on Monday.
The margin of victory allowed Sutton to use everyone on his roster in the game.
"It means you've had the opportunity to share a whole bunch of great basketball moments with a whole bunch of kids for 21 years," Sutton said of the milestone. "There's been buzzer-beaters, and heartbreak, championship, games and fun on the buses, and great atmosphere across the state."
Neuqua forward Dwayne Evans said it felt good to be a part of the team that got Sutton his 400th victory.
"He deserves it," Evans, who scored a game-high 18 and added 4 assists, said. "He gets some criticism sometimes, but I think he's a good coach. Hopefully we get him some more this season."
Neuqua (8-0) held a 20-16 lead over the Chargers after one quarter. Then suffocating defense and balanced offense took over as the Wildcats outscored Dundee-Crown 35-5 in the second and third periods combined.
"I didn't really know what was happening, we were just trying to get into the flow of the game," Evans said of the defensive effort in the first quarter. "After that, our pressure was real intense today. I liked that."
Sutton said he thought the depth of his bench played a major role in the game's outcome.
"Maybe we wore them out," Sutton said. "Our bench is probably a little deeper than theirs. I know our guys were tired. Dwayne begged to come out. I would assume they got tired also. When you get tired, it gets hard to shoot."
Dundee-Crown is a team with just one senior on its roster, and coach Lance Huber knew his squad was up against Neuqua's talented roster.
"I thought we had a great effort for about a quarter and a half, and then their superiority took over and we just couldn't stay with them," Huber said.
Rahjan Muhammad had 12 points and 5 assists for Neuqua. Jim Stocki and Kyle Pembrook each had 10 for the Wildcats.
Nathan Kirchoff scored a team-best 10 points for Dundee-Crown.
The Chargers play Batavia today at 10:15 a.m., while Neuqua Valley will take on Rolling Meadows at 3:15 p.m.