Redburg gives Elgin another weapon
It will take more than a dislocated kneecap to dislodge Marcus Redburg from Elgin's postseason rotation.
Redburg, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior, emerged as a key contributor off the bench in the second half of the boys basketball season, giving the Elgin frontcourt much-needed depth behind third-year starters D'Angelo Stewart (6-5) and Kenny Williams (6-0).
Redburg was the key player in the post for Elgin's sophomore team last season under then-sophomore coach Mike Sitter, but he found minutes harder to come by at the varsity level behind two experienced starters.
However, Redburg's fitness level increased as the season wore on and his playing time followed suit. He gained more minutes after Christmas, culminating in his best game of the season on Feb. 15 -- a 16-point performance in a victory over then-undefeated Upstate Eight Conference leading Waubonsie Valley.
"Hopefully, I can come in and contribute on offense," Redburg said when asked of his role for the 21-9 Maroons, who face Zion-Benton (30-3) in the Class 4A NIU supersectional tonight at 8 p.m.
"But my main goal is defense and rebounding, stopping the other team's post guys down low."
His breakout game against Waubonsie Valley signaled Redburg's arrival as a varsity contributor. Then disaster nearly struck.
While going up for a rebound in Elgin's regular-season finale against Streamwood on Feb. 22, Redburg knocked knees with one of the Sabres. The result was a painfully dislocated left kneecap.
The kneecap couldn't be popped back into place for a few hours until a sedative finally relaxed Redburg enough to complete the procedure. "It was probably the worst pain I've ever felt," he said. Elgin's staff thought the big man's season might be over.
Redburg sat out the regional play-in game against Larkin three days later, but he improved enough to get back on the court in the regional semifinal win against St. Charles East later in the week. He has since participated in each game of Elgin's postseason run.
Redburg's career highlight came last Friday in the Class 4A Jacobs sectional final, when he made a steal on the perimeter, drove the length of the court and threw down a breakaway slam dunk that sent the Elgin faithful into unbridled hysteria.
"That was probably one of the greatest feelings in my life to get that one down in that kind of game with that kind of atmosphere," said Redburg, who had been told not to dunk in practices since the knee injury. "It was crazy."
Redburg finished with 11 points against Boylan, further fortifying an Elgin bench that includes contributors like junior guard Tom Roth (5.8 ppg.) and senior forward Gustavo Herrera (4.0).
"Something clicked about halfway through the season, because now Marcus is playing at full speed, giving us a lot of effort and a lot of good things on the court," Sitter said. "Now we don't worry so much now when (Stewart) gets in foul trouble. We've got another 6-4 kid coming off the bench."