Boys basketball/Scouting Class 4A Jacobs sectional

Four boys basketball teams enter the Class 4A Jacobs sectional this week, but only one will achieve its goal of advancing to an Elite Eight game at Northern Illinois University

Here's a look at the semifinal matchups, each of which offers a contradiction in styles.

Today

Elgin (22-6) vs. Huntley (23-4), 7:30 p.m.

History: Elgin has won 21 sectional titles, most recently in 2008 (Class 4A); Huntley won the program's only sectional in 2001 (Class A).

How they got here: Elgin defeated Streamwood 60-58 and beat Dundee-Crown 36-35 to win the Larkin regional title; Huntley defeated Cary-Grove 44-27 and beat McHenry 34-32 to win the Prairie Ridge regional title.

Broadcast: Both Jacobs sectional semifinals, Friday's 7:30 p.m. sectional title game and the NIU supersectional on March 15 will be broadcast live on WRMN AM-1410 and streamed live on the Internet at www.wrmn1410.com.

Outlook: Two conference champions clash as the run-and-gun Maroons meet the defensive-minded Red Raiders.

Elgin, champion of the Upstate Eight River, hopes it can recreate the Jacobs sectional magic that worked in its favor three years ago. The Maroons won their last sectional title on the very same floor in March of 2008. They beat Hononegah in a semifinal on a buzzer beater by Kenny Williams and went on to upset Boylan for the championship.

These Maroons are led by dynamic junior Kory Brown (16.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.0 apg), who is equally adept at attacking on the break, taking opponents off the dribble or shooting from the outside.

Elgin is a tough team to defend due to its overall balanced attack. Regional MVP Jordan Dean (9.7 ppg), the only senior in the eight-man rotation, junior guard Dennis Moore (11.2 ppg) and sophomore point guard Arie Williams (10.9 ppg) have all taken turns as Elgin's leading scorer at various points this season. Surging junior Matt Andres has averaged 7 points per game in his last six outings. Reserves Gerardo Mojica, Cortez Scott and Devin Gilliams know their roles well.

Like many championship teams, the Maroons use defense to jump start their offense. Elgin's ball hawking full-court press and half-court trap can create rashes of turnovers and lead to multiple baskets in the blink of an eye.

"I think we need to handle the basketball under their pressure," Huntley coach Marty Manning said. "They really get up in your jersey and guard you well man to man. Being strong with the basketball and being able to handle that pressure will be important.

"We have to shoot the basketball well. I'd love to be able to say that when we're not shooting well that we can throw it into some 6-foot-7 guy, but we don't have that luxury. We have to shoot the ball well against any team we play."

The Red Raiders, champions of the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference, have experienced some shooting droughts of late, but they have been one of the area's top shooting teams this season overall. Huntley shoots 46.6 percent from 2-point range and 35.7 percent from 3-point range. Elgin hopes to disrupt that rhythm.

"They shoot it real well when their feet are set," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "You have to really make them catch on the move. I've seen sometimes when they've thrown up some poor shots because guys are rushing. That's what you have to do.

"Hopefully, we close out well and don't allow ourselves to be pinned down on those screens. If we can just get around those and get a hand in their face, they'll make some and they'll miss some."

The top offensive threats for the Red Raiders include senior Tyler Brunschon (12.6 ppg), senior Dylan Neukirch (12.0 ppg, 2.3 apg), 40-percent 3-point shooter Troy Miller (70 of 176) and 6-foot-2 junior forward Justin Frederick (7.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

Defense has become Huntley's calling card of late. The Red Raiders have limited opponents to an average of 29.7 points per game in their last three outings and an average of 37.8 ppg during their 12-game winning streak.

Wednesday

South Elgin (16-12) vs. Rockford Auburn (24-4), 7:30 p.m.

History: Auburn has won 5 sectional titles, most recently in 1979 (Class AA). South Elgin is competing in sectional play for the first time in the program's five-year existence.

How they got here: South Elgin defeated St. Charles East 41-37 and beat Bartlett 33-32 to win the St. Charles East regional title; Auburn defeated Harlem 80-65 and beat Boylan 59-43 to win the Rockford Jefferson regional title.

Outlook: Sophomore Jake Maestranzi, a 90-percent free-throw shooter, sank a pair of technical free throws with 1.5 seconds left to cap South Elgin's 33-32 regional title-game victory over rival Bartlett in what coach Chaz Taft called "the craziest game I've ever been involved in."

The Storm have won 7 of their last 10 ballgames, led by senior guard Sammy Sutter (19.6 ppg) and Maestranzi (8.0 ppg). The steady point guard's ballhandling ability will be tested by the Knights, who trap and press all over the court.

"They're very quick," Taft said. "All five guys are athletic and quick, and they do a great job in their press and their man to man. You can see why they are 24-4. They do a great job with that stuff."

Auburn has one of its best teams in decades, led by speedy 5-10 junior guard Fred Van Vleet (18.9 ppg), 5-10 junior guard LaMark Foote (14.7 ppg) and 5-10 senior guard Anthony Strickland (14.7 ppg).

Van Vleet is Auburn's floor leader. As he goes, so go the Knights.

"He can score in multiple ways," Taft said. "And when he drives he looks to get the other guys the ball. He's can pass or score. He's dangerous. He makes a lot of plays on the defensive end and a lot of plays on the offensive end of the floor."

Auburn went undefeated in the NIC-10 Conference this season (16-0) and knocked off Boylan three times, most recently in the regional title game.

Advancement: The winner of the Jacobs sectional will face the winner of the East Aurora sectional in the Northern Illinois University supersectional on Tuesday, March 15 at 8:10 p.m. The two semifinals at East Aurora feature the top four seeds in the sectional: Benet (29-0) vs. East Aurora (23-5) today at 7:30 p.m. and Downers Grove South (25-3) vs. Glenbard East (24-3) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.