Elgin, Larkin looking to snap losing streaks

Something has to give when the boys basketball teams from Elgin and Larkin lock horns for the second time this season tonight at Larkin at 7:15 p.m.

Each team enters the nonconference rematch looking to snap a long losing streak. Elgin (4-16) has dropped 7 straight games; Larkin (7-12) has lost 9 in a row following a 7-3 start to the season.

"I think (Elgin) coach (Mike) Sitter and I are both looking forward to the fact that we're playing each other, just in the sense that we don't have to get them ready for this game," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "The players should be ready regardless of records and the situations coming in. We'll have our guys ready to play, both teams."

Larkin won the first meeting 71-62 in an entertaining contest at Chesbrough Field House on Dec. 4. Elgin led that Upstate Eight Conference game by 3 points with 3:01 to play before the Royals spurted for 12 unanswered points to win it.

Elgin has been competitive throughout its losing streak with the exception of a 20-point loss to South Elgin on Jan. 15. Otherwise, the Maroons have dropped 6 games during the streak by an average of 7.2 points per outing. However, Elgin hasn't developed the consistency over a 32-minute span Sitter expects. Friday's 71-60 loss at home to Upstate Eight coleading East Aurora was a perfect example.

"We were up 18-10 on East Aurora and they had to get out of their man and play zone because their big guys just couldn't come out and play with all of our guards," Sitter said. "That's kind of been the story of our year. As soon as they went back into zone, we had to shoot from the outside because they had a 6-foot-7 post underneath, and we didn't get any offensive rebounds after the second quarter. We had some shots blocked, we settled for jump shots and that was the ballgame.

"I think we're a little more inconsistent than we were in the past. We're playing better in streaks and worse in streaks, which you'd like to eliminate at this point in the year. You'd like to play at that high level constantly, but they're not doing that right now."

Elgin must be wary of Larkin's ability to connect from 3-point range. In the Dec. 4 meeting, Larkin senior guard Ramadan Adili tied the game with a 3-pointer and senior guard Ryan Smith put the Royals ahead for good with another. Smith enters this contest with 71 3-pointers to his credit, more than any player in the area.

Another Larkin 3-point threat, senior guard Drew Simonini, will not dress for this game as he continues to recover from a high-ankle sprain. Senior forward Brian Cooks will also miss the game for "team reasons."

Larkin's losing streak has coincided with its toughest stretch of the schedule. The Maroons are only the third team with a losing record the Royals have faced since mid-December.

"Looking at the schedule, we knew that little string was going to be tough," Carter said. "We would have liked to get a win or two here or there. But, overall, I think it's getting better. I think we've made it through the teeth of our schedule. I hope we can continue to get better and play our best ball in the regionals."

The game will be broadcast on WRMN-AM 1410.

Wahl commits: Alex Wahl, an All-Area linebacker and tight end at Larkin, has accepted academic and athletic scholarships to play football at Upper Iowa next season. Also a reserve forward for the Larkin basketball team, Wahl will play linebacker for the Division II Peacocks of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

"I think it's a good fit for Alex," Larkin football coach Matt Gehrig said. "He's got a big upside and I think he'll develop a lot. This was his first year playing linebacker, so that lends itself to greater improvement with experience in their program. He's very excited and I'm excited for him."

Wahl finished his senior season with 66 tackles, including 9 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions.