FVC divisional wars start tonight

The sign in the Jacobs locker room is a constant reminder that the Golden Eagles wear bull's-eyes on their uniforms every time they take the court:

"Teams play hard because they are playing Jacobs. We play hard because we are Jacobs," reads the sign, a gift from Quincy High School, where a similar sign hangs.

As divisional play within the Fox Valley Conference kicks into high gear tonight (Huntley and Grayslake North opened the season Thursday), there is no doubt as to which team is the favorite in the Valley. That would be Jacobs (14-1), which has gone 40-3 the last two seasons combined.

"We emphasize to our kids that it would make the season of every single team that plays us if they beat us," said Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle, whose team is top-ranked in the Daily Herald Top 20 and No. 10 in Class 4A this week.

"Our intensity level has to match theirs every time."

It will if senior John Moran has anything to say about it.

"I'm hoping we'll have a nice run," Moran said of the 10-game divisional slate. "We know everyone's out to get us. I'm excited for it. I hope we keep winning, and we should if we keep playing the way we are."

Jacobs, which plays Fenwick at the Sears Centre Saturday night, opens Valley Division play tonight against visiting Cary-Grove, a team the Golden Eagles defeated 73-55 in the semifinals of their holiday tournament.

Cary-Grove (9-8) opened the season 8-3 but has lost 5 of its last 6 games. The Trojans have dropped their last 3 contests by a combined total of 7 points.

"I think we'll bounce back," said Cary-Grove's leading scorer, senior guard Paul Tometich. "We just have to keep playing hard and finish the game. I think it's kind of cool we're going head-to-head with Jacobs in the first game. That will set the tempo for the conference race."

Going streaking:ŒCrystal Lake South (10-5) opens Valley play Saturday night at home against Woodstock (7-10). The Blue Streaks have lost leads in the final two minutes in 9 of their 10 losses.

The Gators have won 4 straight and 6 of their last 7, thanks in part to the inside play of Zac Carpenter, who is averaging double-digit rebound totals.

The Gators must contend with talented Woodstock transfer student Ben Wehthebee of Australia, who will be playing in his final high school game due to an IHSA eligibility ruling that said he will exceed his eight allotted semesters of competition if he plays beyond Tuesday, when Woodstock's second semester begins.

"So we get to play him in his last game. Isn't that great?" Gators coach Dan DeBruycker said dryly. "Lucky us. (Wetherbee) can shoot the ball and handle it. He's really good."

The rest of the Fox Valley Conference jumps into divisional play Saturday night when McHenry (6-9) visits Dundee-Crown (7-6), Prairie Ridge (2-16) travels to the center of town to take on Crystal Lake Central (9-7) and Johnsburg (7-9) plays at Fox Division contender Grayslake Central (11-4).

Milestone No. 2:ŒBy the end of the weekend, Westminster Christian could be boasting of a rarity -- two 1,000-point scorers on the same roster.

Senior forward Joel Benson eclipsed the milestone on Dec. 8.

Senior guard-forward Tyler Beachler is on the precipice of joining him tonight.

Beachler, who has 991 career points in four varsity seasons, could eclipse the mark on the road this evening when the Warriors (11-4) travel to the northwest corner of Illinois to face fellow Class 1A school, Durand.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Beachler, who also scored 98 goals in four years of soccer. "I never thought of myself as a scorer, more of a passer. It's the kind of milestone that comes with a sense of accomplishment. Seeing Joel reach 1,000 points at home was a good feeling.

"Maybe I'll just score 8 points and give the ball to Joel the rest of the game so I can do it at home, too," he added in jest.

The dual milestones are even more notable in light of the fact both Beachler and Benson were members of Westminster's 0-26 varsity team when they were freshmen. The Warriors have improved quite a bit since then under the direction of third-year coach Bruce Firchau.

"From 0-26 to 11-4 in a span of four years just shows the growth of our program," Beachler said. "We're starting to put Westminster on the map. We're not the team other schools crush on homecoming anymore."

Barry's place:ŒMarengo High School will celebrate the storied career of IBCA Hall of Fame coach Homer "Bill" Barry this weekend by naming the gym in his honor before Saturday's game against Richmond-Burton.

Barry, who is battling Parkinson's disease while staying at Elgin's Manor Care Health Center, finished his 38-season career with a record of 718-345, which ranks 10th all-time statewide.

Barry had only two losing seasons in 28 years at Marengo, where he won 13 Class A regionals between 1978-1992 and 17 overall. He also directed the Indians to five sectional titles and a supersectional victory in 1990.