Wildcats keep pace in UEC

Elgin has been riding a boys basketball high lately, but Neuqua Valley knocked the Maroons down a notch with Saturday night's 82-66 Upstate Eight Conference victory in Naperville.

Elgin (13-9, 5-3) entered the game having won eight of its last 10 games.

"They've been playing really great," junior guard Derek Raridon said of Elgin. "The crowd wasn't into it so it was tough to get really pumped up, but we came out hot and played like that the whole game."

"It was really big for us," added Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton, whose team remained half a game behind Waubonsie Valley in the UEC standings. "We know how talented they are. We were extremely nervous. We haven't played very well lately. We've struggled offensively, and they're an offensive juggernaut. So we were very worried. Plus we've got a whole bunch of injuries. So we needed a whole bunch of guys to step up tonight."

They got a whole bunch of guys to step up.

Raridon led the way with 21 points. Sophomore Dwayne Evans made his first varsity start on a Sutton hunch and came up with 19 points and 7 rebounds, guard Brad Keeler notched a personal-best 17 points, and Dan Pawelski added 13 points and 8 rebounds.

"We did," Sutton agreed. "Graham Smith, he played the majority of the game. He didn't even dress last game he was so banged up. … Dwayne, a big coming-out party for him. Brad Keeler's career best game. He was just fantastic tonight. Derek Raridon was solid as usual. Twenty-one points there. He doesn't usually get that, but he's just solid like always."

Elgin hung tough most of the first half, falling behind by 7 at the break. But Neuqua Valley (18-7, 7-1) started the third quarter with a 15-2 outburst to boost the lead to 20.

"We were playing great as a team and we were playing good defense," Raridon said. "We were just getting down the floor and getting wide-open shots. It was a good team effort in the third quarter there."