Elgin CC hands Harper basketball teams setbacks
Looking to rebound from Saturday's 34-point loss to nationally ranked South Suburban College, the visiting Elgin Community College men's basketball team was able to earn its first win of the season Tuesday night, downing Harper College 96-58 in Palatine.
The loss dropped Harper to 1-3 on the season.
"What we saw Saturday wasn't us," said ECC coach Reed Nosbisch. "It was good to see us bounce back.
Third-year Harper coach Sean Stochl called his team's start, "not ideal," but he knows his team is young with nine freshmen on its 10-man roster.
"Being young hurts," Stochl said. "But they are going to grow up fast."
The Spartans want to play fast and using their defense to score in transition on Tuesday they were able to do exactly that, forcing 23 Hawks turnovers that lead to a 50.7 percent shooting night for ECC.
Four ECC players scored double figures, led by sophomore guard Kente Howard's 22 points.
Kelvin Cortez-Harvey (St. Edward) finished with 18 points. Schaumburg alum Johnny Flynn chipped in 12.
Marshall Davis led Harper with 22 points.
Women
A quick start helped visiting Elgin Community College defeat host Harper College 69-31, dropping Harper to 0-3 on the season.
Harper coach Sean Stochal called the Hawks' winless record, "Not the ideal way to start."
ECC coach Jerry McLaughlin was happy with his team's performance.
"We played good team basketball," said McLaughlin.
he duo of Racheal Dumoulin (Hampshire) and Mariel Franco (St. Edward) combined to score 43 of the Spartans' 69 points.
Franco admitted the 3-0 Spartans are, "starting to get the hang of each other (on the court)."
When you are one of the most experienced players on the court you are asked to do more and that's what McLaughlin asks of Dumoulin.
"I'm a leader on the court," Dumoulin said.
Like their male counterparts, the Harper women feature four freshmen on their nine-player roster.
"They are learning," said Stochal, whose team committed 25 turnovers. "We are not comfortable."
Rolling Meadows alum Taylor Gunn led the Hawks with 12 points to go along with 5 assists and 3 steals.