Boys basketball notes: Marian Central slowly growing, learning to compete

They have their moments, such as Tuesday night, when Finn Pivnicka poured in 40 points.

They have their moments, such as Saturday, when they were finishing in transition, draining 3-pointers every other trip down the floor in the first half and playing with confidence at both ends.

Realistically, however, last week wasn’t the time for Marian Central’s Hurricanes to put together their first winning streak of the season. Not when the schedule included games against undefeated Wheaton Academy (86-53 loss), Christ the King (97-32 loss) and Cary-Grove (81-48 loss). Christ the King beat Waukegan, which beat defending Fox Valley Conference champion Crystal Lake South. C-G (7-3) won its third game in a row Monday.

Marian Central’s loss to Christ the King on Friday night followed a 2½-hour bus ride to play the Chicagoland Christian Conference game on Chicago’s South Side.

“We knew this was going to be the roughest week of the year,” said coach Rick Peterson, whose Hurricanes are 0-2 in the CCC. “Those are top clubs.”

Peterson, in his first year at Marian Central after coaching the past three seasons at Alden-Hebron, knows his team isn’t a top club. Even with 2,000-point scorer Christian Bentancur last season, the Hurricanes went 9-24.

“We’re at the infancy stages of what we’re doing here,” Peterson said. “If you watch our freshman and JV teams, they’re both competing right now. Our varsity isn’t competing yet, but they’re getting better. That’s always the last one to come along. It’s been hard for them for a long while here.”

The Hurricanes flashed Tuesday night. Led by Pivnicka, a 6-foot-4 senior wing, Marian Central beat host Schaumburg Christian 65-57 to snap a five-game losing streak and improve to 2-8.

“Finn has had a great season so far,” Peterson said. “He’s one of our leaders, and his aggressiveness this year has been contagious. ... Finn’s been in the weight room, and he’s very focused this year. We’ve taken the handcuffs off him and let him play. He’s a downhill player and makes it tough on people guarding him on our fast breaks.”

The Hurricanes also flashed Saturday against visiting Cary-Grove – at least for a half.

Pivnicka capped a 7-0 run with a layup, giving Marian Central a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter. Adam Wrzos sank a left-wing 3-pointer early in the second quarter to put the Hurricanes up 24-23. Pivnicka’s 3 from the top of the key had the hosts within 33-30 with less than three minutes left before halftime.

Mark Jablonski, a 6-1 sophomore lefty, made 4 of 9 shots from beyond the arc in the first half. The Hurricanes made seven 3s in the first half but trailed 42-32.

Pivnicka (two 3s) finished with a team-high 14 points, Jablonski had 13, and Wrzos (three 3s) added 11. Derek Leitzen contributed seven points, including a 3-pointer, and six rebounds. Logan Brandt had three points and three offensive rebounds.

“They played better today,” Peterson said. “They’re playing better in spurts.”

The tough schedule figures to only toughen up the Hurricanes, who were scheduled to play Round Lake on Wednesday night, before opening play in the Elgin Christmas tournament Monday.

“We have to compete before we win,” Peterson said. “But we’re hustling now. We’re playing harder. We’re in a process right now. It’s a great bunch of kids. They’re the nicest kids you ever want to be around, but they’re not even used to competing, much less winning.”

Peterson thinks January could be when the Hurricanes start winning consistently.

″It’s confidence," Peterson said. “That’s what it’s all about. If we start to get a win or two, then the light bulb will start to go for us. That’s the key now.”

Who’s hot?: McHenry traveled to Wisconsin Dells on Saturday and improved to 8-0 with a 67-63 win over Hudson. The Warriors are the only undefeated team in McHenry County and are 4-0 in the FVC, alone in first place.

Cary-Grove’s 79-49 nonconference win at Elk Grove on Monday night gave the Trojans (7-3) a season-best three-game winning streak. Brady Bauer scored 15 points for the second game in a row.

Crystal Lake South’s 53-48 win over St. Viator on Saturday gave the Gators (7-2) their sixth win in seven games. The Gators, who got 20 points from Carson Trivellini, open Jacobs' Hinkle Holiday Classic with a 3 p.m. Saturday tipoff against Bartlett.