Elgin, Bartlett set to do battle

The most talented boys basketball teams in Elgin Area School District U-46 square off Saturday when Elgin pays a visit to Bartlett for an Upstate Eight Conference tilt.

Bartlett (16-6, 5-2) has won four in a row and six of its last seven. The Maroons (13-9, 4-3) had won seven of eight prior to last Saturday's 82-66 loss at Neuqua Valley.

Elgin couldn't control Neuqua's many big men in the post, a chink in its armor that could be a problem Saturday against another big team in Bartlett.

The Hawks' key interior players include senior center Kamil Janton (6-foot-9), and forwards Cory Hrynyk (6-5), Mike Selvaggi (6-4), Marcell Randell (6-3) and Derrick Coleman (6-3).

"They're big," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "Even some of their guards and perimeter players have some more size to them than us. We're just going to have to play bigger and tougher than we normally do."

Center D'Angelo Stewart (6-5) has been the only true big man in the Elgin rotation for most of the season, but Sitter hinted Wednesday at a possible lineup change that could see junior backup Marcus Redburg (6-4) gaining more time at power forward.

With Redburg in the game, three-year starting forward Kenny Williams (6-0) would move into a rotation at guard with junior Tom Roth and senior Derell Howse.

"We might have to start looking at a bigger lineup down the line," said Sitter, who didn't commit to a timetable on such a switch. "Marcus Redburg has had a couple of good games lately and he's finally working his way into game shape. If he can prove that he can give us something defensively, he'll see the court a lot more.

"And Kenny has the ability to play the wing. He handles the ball well enough to go out and play the guard spot."

The Maroons, currently unranked in the Daily Herald Top 20, never back down from a challenge, so playing No. 12 Bartlett won't faze them.

"They're having a pretty good season, but I think we're right up there with them," Elgin senior guard Armani Williams said. "I think we're way better than what our record shows. I think we're ready."

Count Williams ready, at least. The second-leading scorer in Elgin High history behind only Sean Harrington scored 20 points in a losing cause against Neuqua Valley to give him 103 points in his last four outings.

The Bartlett defense will have its hands full with Williams and Elgin point guard Jeremy Granger.

"I don't think you go into the game saying you have to stop Armani or Granger," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "Your purpose when you're out there is to try to limit their easy looks, their transition baskets. Don't let them get out on the break and attack.

"Both with Armani and Granger the object is to limit their easy looks. You get in Armani's face, you make him create to a pull-up jump shot, you don't give him the uncontested three, you don't give him the easy look to the basket and you make him hit shots from four or five feet behind the stripe, hopefully, with a hand in his face. That's the recipe. It doesn't always work because he's such a good ballplayer, but the object is to make him take contested shots as opposed to open shots."

Empty Nesters: Jacobs (19-2, 5-0) went undefeated through the first round of Valley Division play within the Fox Valley Conference, a slate that included four home games at the new Eagles Nest.

On their second trip through the division the Golden Eagles hit the road four times, beginning Saturday at Cary-Grove (12-9, 3-1).

Jacobs also has road games remaining at Crystal Lake South on Tuesday, at Woodstock (Feb. 16) and rival Dundee-Crown (Feb. 22).

"We kind of had the advantage the first time around playing four home games," Jacobs coach Jim Hinkle said. "It gets tougher in the second half. We'll see. We're looking forward to it."

Cary-Grove has won three straight since losing 59-54 at Jacobs on Jan. 18, a game the Trojans led by a point with under two minutes to play.

Gearing back up: Dundee-Crown (10-9, 3-2) will attempt to rebound from Tuesday's loss at rival Jacobs with a victory tonight at McHenry (6-14, 0-4).

"It will be interesting to see how we bounce back," Chargers coach Lance Huber said. "(Playing Jacobs) was an emotional game and we spent a lot of energy. We've got to see if we can bring it to the table again. We'll find out what we're made of going on the road."

The Chargers are 2-4 on the road this season, not including neutral-site games.

Staying busy: Tuesday's postponement of Fox Division-leading Huntley (14-6, 4-0) at Grayslake Central (14-4, 2-1) means the Red Raiders will play an NBA-like schedule with four games in six days.

The Red Raiders play Saturday at Grayslake North (5-13, 0-3), on Tuesday they host Johnsburg (9-11, 12), on Thursday they play the makeup game at Grayslake Central and they pay a visit next Friday to Prairie Ridge (3-18, 1-2).

Every game is critical in the Fox Valley Conference's 10-game season, but the game at Grayslake Central looms particularly large based on recent history. Last year the Rams swept two games against Huntley, which cost the Red Raiders the outright Fox Division championship. Huntley and Prairie Ridge shared the title as a result.

"Whatever game we're playing next is our biggest game of the season, but we really want to beat these guys after losing like we did last year," junior forward Jordan Neukirch said of Grayslake Central. "We wanted to be in first place by ourselves and we had a chance at their place, but they hit a shot to beat us. So, we want to go up there and get a big W this time."