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Elgin makes it 4 straight wins

It was kind of expected that the Elgin High boys basketball would be able to score some points this year, but it has been the Maroons' defense that has really stood out this week at the West Chicago Wildcat Turkey Classic.

For the third time in 4 games the Maroons held an opponent under 30 points on Friday as they cruised to a fourth straight victory 47-24 over Douglas.

The presence of 6-foot-8 senior Courtese Cooper plays a big part in that defense. Cooper just missed a triple-double on Friday with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocked shots.

"It really helps to have a 6-8 protecting the rim," Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. "We try to funnel everything to the big guy whether it's off the baseline or from the wings and if he's not blocking the shot he's changing a lot of them or he makes teams settle for shots further from the basket. He is definitely a difference-maker."

On the offensive end Elgin got off to a sluggish start and led just 10-6 after one quarter. However, in the second quarter the Maroons exploded for 21 points and led 31-14 at halftime.

"We started breaking their zone," Sitter said. "The guards, whether it was Latrell Hudson or Tre Morris, or Daz Cooks, they did a good job of punching some gaps instead of just staying on the perimeter. They were able to draw some double teams when they dribbled in and then found the open guy."

Tim Wolf, Titus Ahrens, and Hudson had consecutive 3-pointers during one stretch of the second quarter. Wolf, had 11 points, all coming in the first half, with one basket on a drive and four on jumpers, including the 3-pointer.

"They were playing a 2-3 zone and sagging back a little bit," Wolf said. "I've always been like if they are playing up on me I'll try to drive past them, but if they are giving you space you can't be afraid to pull the trigger on the jumper.'

The defense completely took over in the second half. The Maroons held Douglas scoreless for nearly the first 11 minutes and without a field goal until just 3:20 left in the fourth quarter.

The Maroons opened their biggest lead of the game 41-15 on a 3-pointer from Cooper with just under 3 minutes to play.

The Maroons face West Chicago Saturday in a rematch of last year's championship game.

"We have our work cut out for us," Sitter said. "They have a Division I prospect in (Tai) Bibbs and some guys who can shoot from the perimeter. I like some of the things we have been doing so far, but we've just been inconsistent. We can't afford that tomorrow or they will pound us."

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