Variety mostly positive for boys’ hoops start
HUNTLEY – As in any good Thanksgiving gathering, it was a variety of menu items for Huntley boys basketball team at the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament.
The Red Raiders showed their tough defense and perimeter shooting for 3-pointers in three victories. But they took some lessons in a close 53-49 loss to Crystal Lake South for the tourney title.
“Credit to South’s defense the last three quarters,” HHS coach Will Benson said. “They made it tough on us to score.” In the title game the Red Raiders’ barrage of three-pointers led to an early nine-point lead. Senior Ty Goodrich led Huntley with 16 points but the Gators gained second half leads and held off HHS. Junior Lucas Crosby added 10 counters.
Benson was pleased with the overall effort at Johnsburg in victories. Huntley beat Grayslake North, 69-48; Streamwood, 77-51 and Johnsburg, 67-35. “We really got better this week,” Benson said.
Highlights of the triumphs included pulling away with three-pointers and the young squad did a good job with forcing turnovers, Benson said. Case in point was the win over the host Skyhawks in round three. “We played outstanding team defense and shared the ball well. Goodrich was great on Dylan Schmidt defensively. Junior Ethan Blackmore also had a terrific defense.”
Four players made double digits scoring in the win over Hononegah as Crosby tallied 24 points as Huntley closed in on 80 points. The Red Raiders open the 18-game Fox Valley Conference season, at Prairie Ridge Nov. 30 and at Jacobs Dec. 2.
Benson commented on skills of the Red Raiders’ leaders as the season began.
“Ravagnie is 6-foot-4 and has a very high release point,” Benson said. “He has always been a good three-point shooter.”
Noah Only, a senior swingman and Ravagnie along with classmates guards Mark Roesner and Goodrich, are all back from a FVC runners-up squad.
Only, and Ravagnie, along with classmates guards Mark Roesner and Goodrich, are all back.
Only “is a good defender, rebounder and really has improved his scoring.” Ravageine, “is one off our team leaders, he is a tremendous 3-point shooter and has improved both defensively and rebounding,”
On Roesner: “One of our leaders and has improved his all-around offensive game,” Benson said.
On Goodrich: “He plays really hard and physical and gives great effort all the time,” he added.
On Segarra: “An athletic kid who can guard and take it to the basket,” Benson said.
On Blackmore: “Can do a little bit of everything on the court and is a very smart player.”
On Crosby: “He is a very good shooter and has improved his ability to drive and finish at the rim. He is also a good team defender who draws fouls well.”
Benson outlined the top goals early on in practices. “To improve as much as we can and get our guys to understand that to be successful at the varsity level, everything matters. Besides Ravagnie and Only, no one else has played varsity minutes. It’s consistency. We need guys to play the right way to be successful,” Benson said.
“It’s a good group of kids,” he commented. “We just have to figure out as quickly as we can that every possession matters. I anticipate us being in a lot of games that could go either way as far as wins and losses are concerned.”
