Elgin wins; La Lumiere next

One mental hurdle cleared, one mammoth physical hurdle dead ahead.

The Elgin boys basketball team edged nemesis Neuqua Valley 52-48 in a semifinal at the 37th annual Elgin Holiday Tournament Wednesday to avenge a defeat in last year's title game, led by 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks from senior Kory Brown.

The victory by the Maroons sets up a David vs. Goliath matchup for the tournament title Thursday at 8:15 p.m. Elgin (11-1), a team-oriented squad on a 7-game win streak, will take on national prep school power La Lumiere (Ind.) in the championship game. Stocked with five Division I recruits, the Lakers have lost only to Oak Hill Academy this season.

The Maroons advanced to the tournament final for the second straight year by beating the Wildcats for the first time in Brown's three-year varsity tenure.

"It was kind of a revenge thing for us," Brown said. "It was a big thing for us. Last year we lost to them in the championship game and that was really in our heads, so we were ready to get back at them."

Neuqua Valley (7-6) jumped to an 11-point first-quarter lead. All five starters scored in the opening quarter, led by junior Pat Kenny's 3 buckets.

Senior guard Tyler Sutton scored 12 of his team-high 15 points in the first half on 5-of-9 shooting, but Elgin did a better job guarding him in the second half.

"He's a really good shooter and he made a lot of shots in the first half," Elgin senior guard Dennis Moore said. " We decided we had to help our teammates and we locked on the double screens. He didn't get as many open looks as he did in the first half."

In fact, Sutton took only 5 shots in the second half.

"I just don't think we were looking for him in the second half, and he missed a couple of shots," Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton said. "I think he only took 1 shot in the third quarter. When your best player is getting only 1 shot, you're going to lose."

Nonetheless, the Wildcats broke free of a 37-37 tie after three quarters when Jabari Sandifer (12 points) opened the final period with consecutive drives for baskets.

Elgin responded with an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. Reserve guard Derek Strohmaier ignited the push with a layup on a backdoor cut, Brown sank a pair of free throws, Arie Williams converted a backcourt steal into a layup and Brown converted a turnover into a breakaway layup and a 45-41 Elgin lead with 3:05 to play.

The Wildcats twice pulled within 2 points in the final three minutes, but makable shots did not fall.

"We didn't execute as well as we should have," Todd Sutton said. "We missed a lot of little, easy layups. The game was in hand. We were in control the whole way and we messed up a few times on offense, a couple of easy ones."

Sutton sank a 3-pointer with 12.3 seconds left to make it a 1-possession game, but Dennis Moore split 2 free throws with 11.5 remaining to send the Maroons to the title game against La Lumiere.

So do the Maroons think they have a chance?

"Our chances? Everyone thinks it's 100,000 maybe to 1, but we have our heads high and we're coming into this game thinking we'll come out with the W," Brown said. "We're ready for it."

Kenny finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds for Neuqua Valley. Cortez Scott had 10 points and Moore added 9 points and 5 rebounds for Elgin.

Neuqua Valley will play Batavia for third place at 6:45 p.m.