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Elgin CC excited about its chances at NJCAA nationals

Elgin Community College men's basketball coach Reed Nosbisch can't stress enough how much his team is looking forward to playing in this weekend's NJCAA Division III national tournament in Rochester, Minn.

Nosbisch also is optimistic about the Spartans' chances in the eight-team field. ECC opens play at the UCR Regional Sports Center against District VI champion Brookdale Community College out of New Jersey at 2 p.m. ECC (29-5) is the No. 2 seed in the tournament, while Brookdale (24-8) is the No. 7 seed.

"We have a pretty good shot - just as much as anybody else," Nosbisch said. "We feel like we are playing our best basketball of the season."

Nosbisch said playing in Rochester may be an advantage for his team. "The first eight to 10 minutes against Lorain (County) we didn't relax," he said. "We had a great crowd between 750 and 1,000 at our place and that could have been part of the problem. When we play (in Rochester) we won't be in front of as many people and the kids should be able to relax sooner. We have to relax and do what we do best and be who we are."

Nosbisch is somewhat familiar with ECC's opponent Thursday, the Jersey Blues from Brookdale. "They have some really good size," he said. "They are probably bigger than we are. They start four guys who are 6-4 or bigger. The play about the same style we do, but they don't run up and down as much and they still average 80 points a game. They don't shoot a lot of 3s. They try and be patient and use their physicality and size to their advantage. I think we match up pretty well with them. It should be a good game."

Nosbisch added not much can change at this point of the season other than relying on the play and experience that got his team to the national quarterfinals.

"You don't change a lot of what you do 34 games into it," he said. "We feel like the schedule we've played has prepared us for whatever we are going to see in Rochester."

And ECC, ranked fourth in the country, will have the firepower to contend with whatever it will see. Nosbisch ticked off many names from the Spartans' roster who have contributed of late, from Region IV MVP Homer Denson (averaging a double-double at 14.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game) to all-Region performer and Larkin alum Charles Sanders and on down the line. The coach also lauded the transition Larkin grad Juwan Stewart has made since leading scorer Chris Benjamin went down to injury earlier in the playoffs.

"Juwan was our leading scorer against Lorain. He's adapted really well in a spot he's only played for two-and-half games," said Nosbisch. "We've had a lot of guys step up. We told them from the first day, if you stick around long enough during this long season your time will come. It's been all hands on deck with this team. We've seen guys have their minutes increased lately at the most important time of the season. All 15 guys have helped us and we're going to need all of our guys to perform."

Other recent key contributors include the likes of Steve Moyer (sophomore forward), Jamal Jackson (sophomore center), Demetrios Roumbos (freshman guard), Isiah Smith (freshman guard) and Demond Douglas (freshman guard).

"We've had some guys rotate at the guard spot and they've helped keep our turnovers down and they have taken care of the basketball," said Nosbisch.

Sanders, the team's third-leading scorer at 13.0 points per contest, said the Spartans continue to be on a season-long educational journey.

"We have learned each other and we've learned from each other and we've learned from the coaches," he said. "We know our roles and everybody plays a big part in what we do. We know as a unit we can do anything and at this point of the season that has been working really well. I'm proud of the guys. Everybody has stepped up and put up some good numbers and that's helped us."

Sanders agrees the Spartans simply need to keep the train rolling squarely down the tracks in Rochester.

"We have to play our game and everybody has to continue to play their role," he said "Whether it's a big situation or a big play we have to come together as a team. This means a lot to us being able to represent ECC at the national tournament. We have to play our hardest and smartest and play together."

ECC averages just over 81 points per game, gives up just over 62 points per game and has made 300 3-pointers this season. The Spartans are shooting 45.1 percent from the floor. Brookdale averages 82.7 points per game, gives up 69.3 per contest and has made 125 3s. The Jersey Blues are shooting 48.4 percent from the field.

If ECC wins it will play at 5 p.m. Friday in the semifinals against either No. 3 Herkimer or No. 6 Nassau. If the Spartans lose they drop to the fifth-place semifinals bracket Saturday at noon.

The Spartans have won seven games in a row and are 12-3 away from the ECC Events Center this season.

Tournament action can be viewed at www.njcaatv.com.

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