Scouting the weekend in the Fox Valley
This weekend's boys basketball games in the Fox Valley run the gamut from a storyline perspective.
One game will be broadcast throughout the Chicago area. One is a homecoming for an area coach who leads his team against his alma mater for the first time. Another is a showdown between Upstate Eight title contenders. And one game features the leaders of two different conferences squaring off in a McHenry County neighborhood battle.
Here's a breakdown of what's on tap for the final weekend of January:
Friday
Streamwood (6-11, 2-3) at Bartlett (10-8, 4-2), 7:30 p.m.: These District U-46 schools square off in their annual rivalry game, which will be broadcast on tape delay on Comcast 100 on Saturday at noon and 4 p.m.
Streamwood knocked off Bartlett last season, 53-40. Led this season by seniors Derrick King (10.2 ppg, 8 rpg.) and Marcus Lewis (14.1 ppg.), the Sabres have been competitive against a difficult schedule, including a 3-point loss on Tuesday to Oswego East (14-4). Record in a rivalry game matter little anyway.
"Streamwood always plays us tough," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "They are very well coached, they are very athletic, they have a couple of very good players and they're a little bigger than I think people realize at a couple of spots.
"They'll probably sit in a zone and make us hit the outside shots and try to pound it down low. I'm hoping we'll box out, defend and hit some of the open shots we get."
Bartlett has lost three straight against Neuqua Valley, Hyde Park and Naperville North, teams with a combined record of 44-11. The Hawks are regaining their strength after shaking the flu bug. Senior forward Larry Whitaker played through illness against Hyde Park last Saturday, and all-time leading scorer Luke Labedzki was at less than full strength against Naperville North on Tuesday. Both practiced well on Thursday, according to coach Jim Wolfsmith.
"I've seen them a number of times, and I'm very impressed with the way they play," Streamwood coach Tim Jones said of the Hawks. "They pretty much have the full package. They can shoot the ball, they can handle the ball, they're unselfish. There aren't one or two guys to watch; They have five or six of them and you have to be on all of them."
The key for Streamwood is ball control. The Sabres commit an average of 14.6 turnovers per game.
Bartlett's key to victory lies in its defensive will. The Hawks were within striking distance late in each of their three recent losses, but each defeat featured a stretch during which the Hawks broke down defensively, particularly on help rotation.
South Elgin (13-6, 4-1) at Neuqua Valley (17-1, 4-0), 7:30 p.m.: Neuqua Valley is tied for the lead league with East Aurora at 4-0 in league play. A win keeps third-place South Elgin in the title hunt. Neuqua and East Aurora square off in Naperville on Feb. 12.
Larkin (7-11, 1-4) at St. Charles East (7-10, 1-4), 7:30 p.m.: Larkin looks to snap an 8-game skid and a 26-game losing streak in the month of January that dates back to Jan. 26, 2006. The Saints had a 3-game win streak snapped by crosstown rival St. Charles North last Saturday.
East Aurora (11-7, 4-0) at Elgin (4-15, 0-6), 7:30 p.m.: Electrifying East Aurora guard Ryan Boatright is one of the state's most sought after junior prospects and well worth the price of admission. Elgin, which seeks its first UEC victory, hopes to end a 6-game losing streak.
St. Edward (9-12, 1-5) at Guerin (0-15, 0-5), 7:30 p.m.: The Green Wave could reach double digits for victories in this Suburban Christian Gold matchup in River Grove. Junior point guard Mike Ellis (10.5 ppg.) leads St. Edward.
Rockford Christian Life (12-9, 5-1) at Westminster Christian (12-7, 4-1), 7 p.m.: The Warriors have won 6 of their last 7 games. A victory would give Westminster sole possession of second place in the Northeast Athletic Conference.
Burlington Central (7-10, 3-1) at Marengo (3-16, 2-4), 7:15 p.m.: The Rockets are coming off back-to-back losses to Hampshire and Sycamore. Marengo has dropped 8 of its last 9 games.
Elgin Academy (4-15, 0-8) at Morgan Park Academy, 6 p.m.: The Hilltoppers seek their first victory in the Independent School League, led by Paul Leondardis (13.1 ppg.) and Aaron Thomas (10.6).
Saturday
Huntley (12-7) at Hoffman Estates (9-8), 7 p.m.: Huntley coach Marty Manning returns to his alma mater to match wits with his high school coach, Bill Wandro. Manning was an all-area point guard in 1996, when he helped lead Hoffman Estates to the Class AA Elite Eight.
Marian Central (13-7) at Crystal Lake South (11-7), 7 p.m.: An intriguing nonconference game between two of the stronger teams in McHenry County. The visiting Hurricanes lead the Blue Division of the Suburban Christian Conference with a 3-1 record. The Gators are 4-1 in the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference, good for a first-place tie with McHenry.
Madison LaFollette (Wis.) at Bartlett, 4:30 p.m.: The Hawks play their second game in 21 hours against an unknown quantity.
Westminster Christian at Harvard (5-15), 7 p.m.: The Warriors make the trip up Route 14 for a date with the Hornets, who entered the weekend with 3 wins in their last 5 games.
Polo (8-9) at Burlington Central, 7:15 p.m.: The Rockets return home for a nonconference game, the second of back-to-back weekend contests. Polo owns a 4-4 in the NUIC West.