Boys Basketball: Kory Brown’s big game fuels Elgin past Huntley
| Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |
Updated: January 21, 2012 8:54PM
Elgin senior Kory Brown rose to the occasion Saturday at the Sears Centre.
The 6-4 senior played the best game of his career in the biggest showcase game of his career, scoring 30 points to lead the No. 20 Maroons to a 58-44 win over No. 21 Huntley.
Brown only need 13 shots to get his points, finishing 10-for-13 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He had seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
In the post-game press conference, Brown was shocked to learn he had scored 30 — about as shocked as the half-dozen reporters assembled were after Brown said he didn’t have a single Division I scholarship offer.
‘‘I think Kory is the most underrated player in Illinois,’’ Elgin coach Mike Sitter said. ‘‘[College coaches] don’t believe me when I say there is no downside to him.’’
Elgin led by three at the half and led 44-31 after dominating the third quarter, holding Huntley to just three free throws.
‘‘I thought at first we had four or five really good shots that we didn’t knock down,’’ Huntley coach Marty Manning said. ‘‘Then I thought they turned up the intensity and their defense was really good.’’
Elgin junior Arie Williams added 18 points for the Maroons (16-1), who lost to Huntley in the playoffs last season.
‘‘We had a lot of revenge, a lot of payback emotions,’’ Williams said. ‘‘It feels good to have a little revenge.’’
Senior Justin Frederick and 6-6 sophomore Amanze Egekeze each scored 11 for the Red Raiders (15-2). Bryce Only added eight points and Troy Miller scored seven.
Brown, who is a qualifier, said he has visited Loyola and has received interest from Ferris State. He said that he believes the play of his club basketball team this past summer has kept colleges away. Sitter said collge coaches don’t feel his jump shot is consistent enough. Brown was 2-for-3 from three-point range in the game.
‘‘It’s a little frustrating [not having a Division I offer],’’ Brown said. ‘‘But I keep myself humble.’’
Sitter isn’t worried about Brown’s future.
‘‘[After the playoffs] he’s going to have people banging down his door,’’ Sitter said.
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