Scouting the Class 4A Elgin Sectional

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CLASS 4A ELGIN CLASS 4A SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL

7:30 p.m., Tuesday at Chesbrough Field House

ST. CHARLES NORTH

Record: 21-8

Coach: Tom Poulin (3rd season)

Conference finish: Tie for 3rd in Upstate Eight

Players to watch: Nick Neari (6-3, Sr., G); Jon DeMoss (6-3, Sr., G); Josh Mikes (6-4, So., F)

Playoff history: The North Stars claimed their second regional title in program history last week by beating South Elgin 60-42 in the DeKalb Regional final. North made its only sectional appearance in 2005, losing in the semifinals.

Noteworthy: North’s 21 victories are a school record. ... The North Stars regularly use a rotation of nine players and have six players averaging more than 5 ppg. ... North averages 62.5 points and has been held below 60 points only once in past seven games. ... The North Stars are 3-2 all-time at Chesbrough Field House.

Poulin’s take: “We’re still going with that boring cliché of one game at a time, but that’s really what we’re focusing on. We’re trying to get mentally focused for Rockford Auburn and not think ahead. That’s been our goal all season.”

ROCKFORD AUBURN

Record: 21-8

Coach: Bryan Ott (10th season)

Conference finish: 2nd in NIC-10

Players to watch: Darnell Van Vleet (6-2, Sr., G); Ayrryous Ford (6-4, Sr., F/C); Xavier Pittman (5-9, Sr., G)

Playoff history: The Knights captured their first regional title since 1993 by upsetting Hononegah 57-43 in the Rockford Guilford Regional final. Auburn has five sectional titles in program history, with the most recent coming in 1979. Its only State Final appearance came in 1978.

Noteworthy: Auburn is assured of its third straight winning season after finishing below the .500 mark every year from 1994 to 2006. ... The Knights had three different leading scorers in their three regional victories. ... Auburn and North share one common opponent in Rockford Jefferson. The Knights beat the J-Hawks twice while the North Stars lost their only meeting with Jefferson. ... Auburn is no stranger to Chesbrough Field House having played in the Elgin Holiday Tournament the past several years. The Knights finished seventh at the event this season.

Poulin’s take: “Auburn plays hard. They are a team where if you don’t match their intensity they are going to run you out of the gym.”

THE BREAKDOWN

Auburn is loaded with athleticism and can put points up in a hurry. However, North has had decent results against similar teams this year and won’t be intimidated or run out of the gym. Defensively, Poulin says the North Stars must get back on defense and match up quickly to prevent the Knights from getting right to the rim. Auburn thrives on second- and third-chance opportunities, so North must also take care of business on the glass. On offense, the North Stars must cut down on their turnovers, which Poulin said was a problem in the regional. If these objectives are met and North maintains its composure in the event of a shootout, it should be able to advance to Friday’s title game with a narrow victory.