Streamwood's big 2nd half trips up South Elgin
Streamwood's boys basketball team started slowly against South Elgin. Perhaps the Sabres still had thoughts of a last-second defeat on Tuesday rattling around in their heads.
If so, they banished such thoughts at halftime and came back to beat the Storm, 72-63.
Lorenzo Coney scored 19 points and Jakobe Strong scored 10 of his 18 in the fourth quarter for the Sabres in the Upstate Eight matchup in South Elgin.
"I think in the first half they were still stinging from that East Aurora loss," said Streamwood coach Kent Payne. "In the second half, we challenged them, and then we were a different team. The press worked. We made a little adjustment and then made it work."
The Sabre comeback actually started just before halftime with Streamwood down 31-23. The pressure led to a couple of steals by Strong that he converted into layups that helped get the visitors within 4 points by halftime.
Streamwood then opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take the lead for good. A layup by Kyle Maybrun capped the run and left the Sabres with a 44-38 advantage.
Strong hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to keep the Storm at bay.
"I felt like the crowd was giving it to us and we needed to get our energy back," said Strong. "I felt like I could hit the shots."
Strong also grabbed 10 rebounds. Coney added 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Maybrun finished with 15 points for the Sabres (12-8, 7-3), while Zach Marquez contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds.
The fifth Streamwood starter, Darrell Luce, chipped in 8 points,
Kendis Wiley scored 16 points to lead South Elgin. Lane McVicar added 13 points, and John Aaron Wafford and Josh Genz scored 11 apiece.
Streamwood outscored the Storm 17-8 in the third quarter and never trailed throughout the fourth.
"We did not get back on defense, we didn't get defensive rebounds, and then we didn't take care of the basketball," said South Elgin coach Brett Johnson. "Those three things are like the perfect storm against any team. But the biggest thing for me is they're not communicating with each other, because that's the one thing I can't control. But Streamwood does a great job of making you feel uncomfortable and speeding you up."
With the Sabres clinging to a 57-53 lead, Strong hit the second of his 3-pointers. After a layup by Drew Cwik at the other end, Luce drained a 3. Strong added a free throw for a 64-55 lead. South Elgin cut the deficit to 5 points several times but could get no closer.
Marquez hit 10 of 12 free throws as Streamwood made 22 of 31 attempts as a team.