Streamwood hangs on to topple Dixon

Streamwood's 35-34 downing of Dixon wasn't particularly artistic, but the Sabres' boys basketball team will take it.

Nikola Sinik hit a jumper with 27 seconds left and Keenon Cole blocked Beau Bailey's potential game winner with 5 seconds to go as the Sabres held on for the win in the Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs.

"We need any kind of win we can get," said Streamwood coach Paul Kowalyszyn. "We tend to hurt ourselves a lot more than other people hurt us. I thought Dixon played a good game. They did exactly what they like to do: keep it in the 30s, keep it low and slow, and that's what they did."

So Dixon's deliberate pace helped muck things up, but consider that in the first half Streamwood shot 39 percent from the field, committed 9 turnovers, were outrebounded 16-9 and didn't score for the first 5 minutes of the second quarter, but the Sabres still led at halftime.

Another Sabre dry spell to start the second half saw the Dukes complete a 10-0 run to go up 22-16. But a 3-pointer by Cole got the Sabres started on the comeback trail. Brendon Marton's personal 8-3 run, consisting of a pair of 3-pointers, sandwiched around a breakaway layup, put Streamwood back on top after 3.

Derian Duncan's bucket completed a 6-0 run to give Dixon the lead with 56 seconds to play, but the Dukes didn't score again despite four more chances. With the clock winding down, Cole swatted away Bailey's jumper. Bailey grabbed the rebound and had one more chance, but his desperation heave rimmed out.

Sinik led all scorers with 12 points. Marton added 10 and Cole 9.

The Dukes continued to dominate the glass, outrebounding the Sabres 30-16, with Keenan Beard grabbing 7.

"I thought Zach Marquez played really well," Kowalyszyn said. "For a freshman, he held their guards in check and handled the ball really well."

Bailey's 9 points led the Dukes.

Streamwood, which finished 1-2 in pool play, did not attempt a free throw in the game. Dixon had just 4 attempts, all by Bailey, who made them all.