Streamwood knocks off Elgin

After a two-week layoff, Streamwood's girls basketball team could have looked a little rusty Wednesday night.

Without injured 4-year starting point guard Amanda Patterson, the Sabres should have had trouble moving the ball and adjusting to new roles.

Against a taller Elgin team, Streamwood should have also struggled on the glass.

So much for could have, should have, would have.

Led by 10 points from Jessica Cerda, the Sabres scored 18 points in the first quarter and defeated Elgin 68-31 in Upstate Eight River Division action at Chesbrough Field House.

Cerda also embraced her new role at the point, finishing with 3 assists to go along with a game-high 19 points in the win.

Streamwood (7-7, 3-1) dominated the battle on the boards, with a 46-24 rebounding advantage, including a 16-3 edge in the first quarter.

"We want to work together and have everyone contribute scoring not just one, two or three people," said Cerda, who was mainly used as a setup shooter before Patterson went down with a torn ACL at the Mundelein Holiday Tournament.

Elgin (0-16, 0-4), which has now lost 44 straight 44 games, did allow Cerda to get a pair of open 3-point looks in the first quarter. She drained both and shot 4 of 5 in the period. She finished the game 6 of 13 from the floor.

But Streamwood was able to find scoring from every player who played, with Hannah McGlone (12 points) and Deja Moore (10 points) each tallying double digits.

"We're adjusting to not having Amanda," Streamwood coach George Rosner said. "Everyone is adjusting and assuming different roles. Cerda is taking over at point guard. We're getting our premier scorer with the ball in her hands more."

After giving up 14 offensive rebounds in the first half, the Maroons took a much more aggressive rebounding approach in the second half. Elgin cut the deficit on the boards to 15-13, with sophomore Jessica Ramirez grabbing all 5 of her rebounds in the second half.

Center Briana Hamilton, who missed the Maroons' games at the Wheaton North tournament due to a vacation, returned to the lineup and scored 6 points to go along with 6 rebounds. McGlone, Moore and Holly Foret (8 points) each finished with 9 rebounds for Streamwood.

"We decided that we were going to get after it (in the second half)," Maroons' coach Dr. Nick Bumbales said. "We were bigger than them at most positions. We decided that we were going to push people out of the way."