Frericks scores 33 in Cary-Grove's win over South Elgin

The Cary-Grove boys basketball team took the first step toward forging a new Jacobs Tournament identity in a 70-62 victory over South Elgin Saturday.

The Trojans entered the Hinkle Holiday Tournament at Jacobs with a 46-64 cumulative record since the event began in 2001, and their 64 losses are 10 more than the next closest participant.

This Cary-Grove team could give two hoots about all that.

"Our mindset is we're going to win this tournament," said Cary-Grove junior Beau Frericks. "If we play our best, play like that, I don't think anyone can stop us."

Frericks was virtually unstoppable for Cary-Grove (8-3). The 6-foot-1 guard led all scorers with a career-high 33 points, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers during a 12-0, second-quarter run that ballooned the lead to 31-16 with 1:55 left in the half.

Frericks sank five 3-pointers in 9 attempts, made 2 steals and had 4 assists.

"Killer instinct," Cary-Grove coach Adam McCloud said. "Last year I was trying to handcuff him a little bit, but you can't handcuff him. He's that guy you just have to let play. He's a playmaker. When he plays unselfish like he did today, he opens up his teammates and then he gets his. And we need him. He's our scorer."

Cary-Grove was able to separate from South Elgin (9-3) in the second quarter after senior guard Drake Montgomery picked up his third foul and took a seat. The Trojans pressed the Storm - a team with three freshmen and a sophomore in the rotation - and caused 4 straight turnovers to spark the 12-0 run.

Cary-Grove led 51-39 after three quarters and extended the lead to 17 with over three minutes left before the Storm made a final push.

Led by Montgomery, who scored 8 of his 12 points in the final period, South Elgin drew within 67-62 with 21 seconds left on a 3-pointer by sophomore John Aaron Wafford.

Frericks was fouled on the next possession and sank both free throws with 13.6 left to put the game out of reach.

"I'm proud of the entire team's effort to continue to play and not give up," South Elgin coach Brett Johnson said. "They were down like 20 points and all the sudden they got it to 5. That's a testament to the kids' character, but you can't keep playing from behind like we have for 11 games. It's too hard for us to keep fighting back every game."

Both teams resume pool play at Jacobs on Dec. 26. South Elgin plays Marian Central at 9 a.m.; Cary-Grove faces Rockford Jefferson at 1:30 p.m.