Boys basketball: Balanced effort helps Elgin down Streamwood, snap Upstate Eight streak

Elgin second-year basketball coach Kurt Kerrigan is trying to build a winning tradition.

After the team suffered through a 2-28 campaign a year ago that included a 0-12 mark in Upstate Eight West play, the Maroons opened the season with 3 consecutive losses at the Crystal Lake Central Thanksgiving Tournament.

Those numbers failed to deter the Maroons Friday night.

Senior forward Coreyon Johnson led 3 players in double figures with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals, as the Maroons (1-3, 1-0) snapped a 15-game conference losing streak dating back to January of 2024, with a 63-55 UEC West victory over host Streamwood (1-3, 0-1).

“We had a tough summer that I scheduled on purpose,” said Kerrigan. “We took our beatings but played some hard-nosed competition. We changed our Thanksgiving tournament to a little harder competition as well. That kind of prepped us for conference play.”

Last season, the Sabres posted a pair of double-digit wins over Elgin.

“We remember what happened last year,” said Kerrigan. “They beat us by 30 and 22 points. We wanted to come out and prove a point.”

That they did.

A 3-pointer by junior Evan Perez snapped an 11-11 deadlock, putting the Maroons on top for good.

Elgin built a 38-29 halftime advantage before extending the margin to as many as 19 at 52-33 with 2:21 left in the third quarter.

Ryan Varghese (13 points, 6 rebounds), Jacob Rufino (5 points, 8 rebounds), and Johnson helped fuel a 12-2 run that turned a 9-point lead into a 19-point lead.

“We were hungry,” said Johnson. It’s (the win) extremely important. It’s the turning point for Elgin. We take a lot of pride in hustle plays, rebounding, and boxing out. That’s going to be our identity this year.”

Jeremiah Seward also reached double figures with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, while sophomore Ja’Miere Moore added 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Maroons.

“Although it was not pretty, I’m happy with the result,” said Kerrigan. “I’m not complacent but it’s better than last year.”

Battling foul problems throughout the night, Streamwood staged a late rally.

Trailing 58-41, the Sabres pulled within 10 at 58-48 on Kacper Andrusiewicz’ 3-pointer with 3:25 remaining.

Another 3-pointer by Andrusiewicz with 30 seconds left made it 60-53, as the comeback fell short.

“We wrote three E’s on the board before we started – energy, effort, and enthusiasm,” said Sabres coach Quentin Ruff. “It’s something that we lacked the last two games. I’m trying to get the guys to understand if you bring those three, you always have a chance.

“We just didn’t bring those three.”

Damarion Smith paced the Sabres with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jesse Sanchez and Jaelin Tate added 11 points apiece. All three players fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“A lot of that is our guys are not in position,” said Ruff. “We’ve got to clean that up.”