Boys basketball notes: Marengo and Woodstock North set up for big KRC finish

The Kishwaukee River Conference schedule could not have worked out better in terms of drama for the final week of play.

Marengo (7-1, 7-0 KRC) plays at Richmond-Burton (9-2, 5-2) on Friday, while Woodstock North (6-1, 6-1) hosts Woodstock (0-9, 0-7).

The KRC set up its schedules with home-and-home the same week. As good fortune would have it, Marengo and North have their two-game set next week. If both win Friday, the Thunder will be a game behind Marengo with two to play. If Marengo loses, they would be tied with two to play; if North loses, it could still tie with a sweep. R-B also could tie if it beats Marengo then sweeps Johnsburg next week.

Marengo is trying to go undefeated in the KRC in successive seasons. The Indians needed overtime to take down R-B, 48-40, on Tuesday.

“We’re excited,” Marengo guard Mitch Kunde said. “It’s been our goal all year to go back-to-back. We just have to do it again at Richmond and then prepare for Woodstock North.”

The Indians had a sluggish offensive night against R-B’s 1-2-2- ball press, which often gives teams trouble.

“We didn’t play hard [enough] the whole game, but in overtime we definitely picked it up, for sure,” said Marengo guard Matthew Volkening, who scored 14 points and is averaging 22.1 a game. “It’ll definitely be a different game Friday. We’re not going to have that happen again,”

Volkening and North guard Cole Brey are two of the area’s top players. North’s only KRC loss came against R-B.

“We’re looking forward to Woodstock, our crosstown rival, and Senior Night [this Friday],” Brey said. “But we are really looking forward to Marengo. We tried to go undefeated in conference and it didn’t happen. We’re going to be ready for them.”

Thunder coach Dale Jandron embraces the opportunity for his team.

“I’m not overlooking Woodstock, they’re always going to play us tough,” Jandron said. “We have a good chance. Last year we battled them, the year before we battled them. The program’s starting to get better and develop.”

Family matters

Last week’s North vs. Johnsburg two-game series was a family affair for both coaching staffs. Jandron in in his third season with sons Drew and Josh as his assistant coaches.

Johnsburg coach Mike Toussaint has had his brother Eric as an assistant for several seasons and now has his daughter Kayla as another assistant.

“I get to coach with my kids, what else you you ask for?” Jandron said.

Good things coming

Marian Central has something to look forward to in the next few years. The Hurricanes (2-10, 0-6) have some brutally tough games in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, but there are times when they have two sophomores and two freshmen on the floor.

Freshman forward Christian Bentancur (6-3) and sophomore guard Jake Giangreco (6-1) lead the Hurricanes in scoring. Freshman Cale McThenia (6-1) is another starter and sophomore Dawson Yegge (6-6) is one of the first players off the bench.

Marian dropped to Class 2A last year because it was waived from the IHSA 1.65 multiplier and was classified at its actual enrollment (677), which also could benefit the Hurricanes.

“We’re a very young team, so we’re all learning as we go,” Giangreco said. “We could start changing the program around with these younger classes coming through. We’re starting to play as a team more.”

Second-year Marian coach Charley Walsh is excited about the future.

“I like the group a lot,” Walsh said. “They’re young and they’re learning. As long as they keep competing, they’re going to get better. It’s a journey. They could be a good team.”

Rockets on top

Burlington Central clinched the Fox Valley Conference boys basketball championship with a 69-35 victory over McHenry on Wednesday. When Crystal Lake Central beat Cary-Grove with Davion Lewis’ 3-pointer in the final seconds, it left Burlington at 8-0 with a game remaining and Huntley (6-2) and C-G (5-2) unable to catch the Rockets.

Thus, Burlington in the No. 1 seed for the FVC Tournament, which starts with two play-in games Saturday – No. 10 Hampshire will play at No. 7 [to be determined] and No. 9 plays at No. 8.

Quarterfinal games will be Tuesday, semifinals will be Thursday and the championship and third-place game will be Saturday, all at the higher seed’s gym.